Middle school student Anna Lagerquist lived with imminent danger for a long time in the Russian border town of Rostov.

The Swedish national team star played there in Champions League betting club Rostov-Don.

But on February 23, she flew away and will never return.

Because the next day, the country she lived in for a year and a half chose to invade Ukraine.

And she then tried to figure out her handball future.

- It was a very intense week when there was also a national team meeting at the same time and we were going to play matches.

And they tried to understand the situation in the world, Anna Lagerquist tells SVT Sport, who meets the 28-year-old on the French west coast, where she has been playing for Neptunes de Nantes for a month now.

War broke out and she immediately tried to leave the Russian club - which was accommodating.

- They understood the situation and let me break my contract, for which I am very grateful.

"Not black and white"

For Anna Lagerquist, it was no big concern to tear up the contract with her Russian club.

But for other Swedish athletes, such as KHL player Jakob Lilja, it was more difficult.

- They really wanted those who wanted to leave to be able to leave.

But at the same time, a contract is like any other job contract.

So it's not just going and not coming back or just saying I don't want anymore.

But you have responsibility towards the club, your employer.

So it's a very complex question.

It's not black and white, even if it were easier.

Lagerquist's previous club Rostov-Don was lenient with the Swede's choice - but for the domestic players it was not as understandable.

- We come from two different sides where it may sometimes be difficult to see the other's perspective even if you try.

We have understood each other as well as possible.

Clubmate with two Swedes

With a torn contract, Anna Lagerquist ended up in a match vacuum.

Closed transfer window in Sweden and the planned club change to Nantes in France only came this summer - so for six months there were only a couple of international matches for Sweden.

Next up are double training international matches for her and Sweden against Brazil, on September 29 and October 1.

Both matches are broadcast on SVT.