Lilia Podkopaieva on Childhood in Donetsk and Meeting with Her Russian Father.

According to inkorr.com: Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics Lilia Podkopaieva shared her memories of childhood spent in a Russian-speaking environment. In an interview, she recalled her surroundings in Donetsk, where everyone spoke Russian, and also talked about meeting her biological father, who is Russian.

Well, of course, I remember. And all my surroundings were Russian-speaking, so even in my head, in my thoughts, there was no such thing as learning Ukrainian. Dad is Russian... - she explained.

Lilia has no connection with her father, who left the family when she was only two years old. Her first meeting with him only took place in 2002 and was brief and awkward.

This was the first time since childhood. I didn't know how to address him, what was right. I couldn't call him Dad, I also couldn't call him Sasha, whether in a familiar way or formal. It was very uncomfortable, so it seemed to me that it was such a clumsy meeting, - Podkopaieva confessed.

Lilia emphasized that for her, family is not only blood relatives but also those who are always there, investing their time and soul in the development of each personality.

Lilia Podkopaieva's childhood in a Russian-speaking environment had a significant impact on her perception of language and identity. The meeting with her father, which occurred after a long absence of contact, helped her realize that family is not only about genetic ties, but also about support and understanding with people who are always around. This story reminds us how important it is to have people who can become a true family, even if the ties with blood relatives are broken.