Famous Russian figure skater Gleb Smolkin, who performs ice dancing with Diana Davis, said that a week before the mobilisation was announced, his family in Russia received a summons. Smolkin and Davis have been living and training in the United States for the past four years.

The pair are silver medallists at the Russian Championships (2022), bronze medallists at the 2020 Russian Junior Championships and winners of the Russian Junior Cup Final (2021).

"The worst thing is that a week before the mobilisation was announced, a week before the test runs, a district police officer came to my family with a summons. He asked where I was, what I was doing. We just sat down to discuss with Diana, with our families, with the coaches that if we arrive, it is absolutely unknown what kind of paperwork and bureaucratic situation we will find ourselves in," Smolkin told the Skating Podcast, the text version of which was cited by Championat.com.

The figure skater doubts that he will be able to perform again after returning to Russia and then return to the US.

"That's why it was a very big risk and still is a big, not very justified risk. That's why we decided to wait it out for now, since this season is not a good one," Smolkin concluded.

Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!