Olympic luge champion Felix Loch was shocked after a visit to the Ukrainian border and issued an appeal for peace.
“I will never forget what we have seen and experienced in the last few hours.
It just changes everything!
This war must stop!
All wars must stop!!" Loch wrote on his Instagram account.
Together with his wife Lisa, the 32-year-old drove to the Ukrainian border in Poland with 16 helpers in eight buses as part of the "Athletes for Ukraine" campaign, which was initiated by biathlon Olympic champion Jens Steinigen.
Numerous prominent athletes such as alpine icon Markus Wasmeier or former cross-country skiing star Tobias Angerer actively joined the initiative.
Three vehicles from the German Ski Association, two from the Bobsleigh and Sled Association for Germany and other association buses from the region brought relief supplies to the crisis region.
On the way back, they took 47 women and children with them.
"We work together with an aid organization from Rosenheim," said Loch in an interview with Radiowelt on Bayern 2. The refugees initially receive accommodation through the Bavarian State Sports Association, which has opened large sports facilities for this purpose, so they are at least physically in front of the Aggressive war of Russia in security.
Loch and his wife found it difficult to process the decision as to which of the many families with children, some of whom had been away for days, was allowed to be there.
"You have to get into a strange car and you have to drive to a foreign country," he said, adding that it was "extremely crass".
On the way back, his wife "just cried for four or five hours," Loch said.
The tour is said to have been just a start for Loch, with "Athletes for Ukraine" he wants to continue fighting against the suffering on the doorstep of Central Europe.
"We athletes," he says, "after all, have an unbelievable reach in the media."