RUSSIA'S top female tennis player has bravely come out as gay – and slammed Vladimir Putin's ongoing war with Ukraine.
Daria Kasatkina, 25, is the world No12 and reached the semi-final of the French Open earlier this year.
Russian law forbids the discussion of LGBTQ relationships which "promotes non-traditional sexual relations" to minors.
There are even discussions within the nation's parliament over making the rules even more strict.
Yet Kasatkina – who lives and trains in Barcelona, Spain – has bravely come out as gay and even shared a snap of her with her significant other on social media.
When asked if she was dating a woman, Kasatkina replied, "Yes", before admitting "living in the closet" would not be sustainable.
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Kasatkina continued: "Living in peace with yourself is the only thing that matters, f*** everyone else.
"I believe it is important that influential people from sports, or any other sphere really speak about it.
"It is important for young people who have a hard time with society and need support.
"There is no point, it would always be going round in your head, until you say something.
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"Obviously, each person decides how to open up and how much."
Just last year, Kasatkina had hinted she was bisexual, admitting men and women "both have their perks" in a Russian interview.
But she seemed to stop short of coming out, despite claiming she had "more connection" with women after admitting it would be met with "huge negativity in Russia".
Kasatkina even claimed: "Maybe I'll never fully understand who I am or what I want."
Yet just a year later, the Russian No1 now feels comfortable enough to be true to herself.
Shortly after coming out as gay, Kasatkina shared a picture of her hugging Olympic silver medalist figure skater Natalia Zabiiako.
In a separate post on Twitter, Kasatkina called Zabiiako – a Russian-Estonian who now represents Canada – her "cutie pie".
Zabiiako won her Winter Olympics silver medal in 2018 while competing under the Russian flag.
Kasatkina also called for an end to her nation's war against Ukraine.
When asked what she wanted above all else in life, she heartbreakingly replied: "For the war to end."
The tennis star went on to call the invasion a "complete nightmare".
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That too was incredibly brave, with Russia refusing to describe the ongoing situation in Ukraine as a "war" but instead a "special military operation".
Criticism of the conflict can lead to fines or even prison time, with Kasatkina reduced to tears in the interview after being asked if she fears she may never be able to return to Russia.
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