Rhythmic gymnast Anna Rizatdinova fulfilled the dream of a girl whose father died defending Ukraine.

The girl has been doing rhythmic gymnastics, her most important activity, for over five years. So, meeting Anna was undoubtedly another dream come true. 

"Varvara wants to become a master of sports in Ukraine. This is a significant title that is not easy to obtain. However, she knows what the work is; she is extremely confident and believes in herself - and this is 90% of success, an indicator of a conscious understanding of what she wants and why she is doing it. Varvara has a lust for life and hot eyes. I believe in her and, at the same time, remember myself as a little girl. Even though children grow up in a war, they already have strength in their DNA. It shows up on the mat. And thanks to parents like Varya's dad, we should realize that we can continue to train and educate the next generation. We must continue to do everything in our power," Anna Rizatdinova said after the meeting.

From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Varya's father, Ilya Motornyi, decided to volunteer for the area defense. Later, he joined the 205th Battalion and was appointed company commander, but in May 2022, he was killed in Siverskodonetsk. 

Learn more about the meeting in a dedicated video on 1+1 media's official Instagram and Facebook pages and in the new season of the Closer to the Stars show this Sunday, February 23, in the morning on the TET TV channel.

As a reminder, 1+1 Media, in cooperation with the Children of Heroes Foundation, fulfills the wishes of children who have lost one or both parents to war. In 2024, the project team helped more than 50 children fulfill both intangible and tangible dreams.