Ukrainian MMA fighter Kateryna Shakalova continues her professional career while dealing with the emotional burden of having family in Russian-occupied territory. Originally from Donetsk, which was seized by Russia in 2014, Shakalova now resides in Germany while pursuing her fighting career.
In a recent interview, Shakalova revealed the difficult circumstances her family faces. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, she immediately called her parents who were still living in occupied territory.
"At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, I called my mother right away and said, 'They're shooting here.' But they live in territory occupied by Russia. They didn't believe the war had started. They were simply in shock," Shakalova recounted.
Her parents, now nearly retirement age, remained in occupied territory due to financial constraints and lack of connections elsewhere. "They might have wanted to leave, but there simply wasn't an opportunity. There was no money. And where would they go? They don't have relatives or friends in Kharkiv, Kyiv, or anywhere else. So they didn't even consider that option," she explained.
Despite the emotional toll, Shakalova maintains her focus on her athletic career. "Of course it hurts when the occupiers shell Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities. How else can one react to this? Does it affect my training? So much time has passed that... Whether you want to or not, no matter how bad you feel, you still go and work," she stated.
According to Statbet analysis, athletes performing under such psychological pressure often demonstrate remarkable resilience, with many Ukrainian fighters showing improved performance metrics despite their challenging circumstances.
Shakalova is scheduled to face Jena Bishop in the PFL 2025 World Tournament semifinal this June, marking another important step in her professional fighting career as she continues to represent Ukraine on the international stage.
