Julia, 20, and Olena Horodna, 17, came to Estonia a few days ago.

The competitions in Otepää will be the sisters' first ever World Cup competition, having previously only competed internationally at junior level.

The opportunity arose after the sisters fled Ukraine to Poland just over a week ago.

“On March 1, our parents decided to take us abroad for our own safety.

We have a 4-year-old sister and she does not really understand what war is and we do not want to scare her, so we decided to go to Poland ", writes Julia Horodna in an email to SVT Sport.

"Painful and sad"

But focusing on what is the sisters' biggest competition ever is not easy.

Several family members remain in Ukraine and Julia Horodna says she is constantly thinking about them and her country.

"In Ukraine, all our relatives, my boyfriend and his family are at the epicenter of events.

We are always in contact with them, they say they are bombing homes, schools and they are very scared.

Our biathletes are also sitting there in bomb shelters and going nowhere ", writes Julia Horodna.

How do you feel when you see pictures and movie clips from the war?

"It's scary when relatives send it.

We are very worried, the city where we lived and trained was totally bombed and now when I look at pictures and movies I do not recognize what area it is.

There is also a biathlon stadium, where we have always trained and run Ukrainian championships, unfortunately there is no one left.

It is very painful and sad to see what has happened to our country. "

What is the message that Ukraine is represented in sports?

"I think this is very important, because even in such a difficult time, we represent our country.

We are a strong nation, our flag hangs here and we can fight. "

A trial competition

The World Cup in Otepää begins on Thursday with the men's sprint.

The next day it's time for the ladies' sprint.

Julia Horodna says that it will be interesting to compete with the best in the world, but there is no doubt that it will be a trying competition - both physically and mentally.

"Two weeks ago I saw all the biathletes on TV, and now I see them live.

It will be a very difficult competition, I just want to go as fast as I can and gain experience. ”