Ukrainian tennis players, including Elina Svitolina and Sergiy Stakhovsky, have called for unity and support following Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine. Multiple explosions were heard in Ukrainian cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odessa after Russian president Vladimir Putin launched a military operation on Thursday. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the operation as a "full-scale invasion" of Ukraine.The Associated Press@APRussian troops launched a broad assault on Ukraine from three sides on Thursday, an attack that began with explosions before dawn in the capital Kyiv and other cities. apne.ws/mc2h4D86:05 PM · Feb 24, 2022549187Russian troops launched a broad assault on Ukraine from three sides on Thursday, an attack that began with explosions before dawn in the capital Kyiv and other cities. apne.ws/mc2h4D8 https://t.co/f5F8wCbPfZMichael Holmes@holmescnnimage from the Ukrainian President’s office sent to CNN's @mchancecnn following the loud explosions the team heard on the ground in #Kyiv #Ukraine10:34 AM · Feb 24, 2022118766328image from the Ukrainian President’s office sent to CNN's @mchancecnn following the loud explosions the team heard on the ground in #Kyiv #Ukraine https://t.co/IpJTDdmSCc“Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now," said Kuleba.While nations like the US, UK and France have condemned the attack by Russia, people in Ukraine have expressed their concern over the current state of affairs.Elina Svitolina appeared speechless at the news of the invasion and tweeted a crying emoji. A few hours earlier, she had called on her fellow Ukrainians to unite for the sake of peace in the country."I can’t…..😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔💔💔💔," wrote Svitolina on Twitter.Sergiy Stakhovsky, meanwhile, asked all his friends around the world to put "pressure" on their respective governments to help Ukraine. He also warned that if "Ukraine falls," Europe will be next."I would like to encourage all my friends around the world to put pressure on your governments, persuade them to support Ukraine with all means necessary. To kick out all the russian diplomats and oligarchs out of their countries. If Ukraine will fall the Europe is next," tweeted Stakhovsky.Elina Monfils@ElinaSvitolinaI can’t….. #Україна #Ukraine10:15 AM · Feb 24, 2022101341063I can’t…..😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 #Україна #UkraineSergiy Stakhovsky@Stako_tennisI would like to encourage all my friends around the world to put pressure on your governments, persuade them to support Ukraine with all means necessary. To kick out all the russian diplomats and oligarchs out of their countries. If Ukraine will fall the Europe is next..12:25 PM · Feb 24, 202216340I would like to encourage all my friends around the world 🌏 to put pressure on your governments, persuade them to support Ukraine 🇺🇦 with all means necessary. To kick out all the russian diplomats and oligarchs out of their countries. If Ukraine will fall the Europe is next..Elina Monfils@ElinaSvitolinaПишаюся тим, що я українка. Єднаємося у цей надскладний час заради миру та майбутнього нашої держави. Слава Україні Video made by: dorosh.raw2:34 AM · Feb 24, 20224832682Пишаюся тим, що я українка. Єднаємося у цей надскладний час заради миру та майбутнього нашої держави. Слава Україні 💙💛🇺🇦Video made by: dorosh.raw https://t.co/PFz6LqYYRaAlexandr Dolgopolov, who retired in 2021, requested everyone to "pray" for Ukraine."Please keep Ukraine in your thoughts and prayers. My hometown Kiev and the whole Ukraine is under attack right now. The bombings have started at night!" tweeted Dolgopolov.Alex Dolgopolov@TheDolgo11:19 AM · Feb 24, 20221501240https://t.co/pOIDLZYb6dMarta Kostyuk joins Elina Svitolina in decrying Russia's tacticsElina Svitolina at the Brisbane InternationalMarta Kostyuk earlier took to Instagram to voice her opposition to Russia's invasion. Kostyuk firmly stated that Ukraine is and will never be a part of Russia "Ukraine has its own History. Ukraine has its own Culture. Ukraine has its own Language. Ukraine has its own Nation. Ukraine has its own Territory. Ukraine is a sovereign Country. Ukraine is not a "part of Russia," it wasn't and will never be," she wrote on Instagram.On the tennis front, Elina Svitolina was beaten by Tereza Martincova in the first round of the Qatar Open. The World No. 15 won the first set, but failed to build on her momentum and lost the match 6-7)2), 7-5, 7-6(5).wta@WTAA Martincova MARATHON ‍♀️ Tereza Martincova comes from a set down to outlast Svitolina in a grueling 2h59m!#QatarTennis7:43 PM · Feb 21, 202223225A Martincova MARATHON 🏃‍♀️🇨🇿 Tereza Martincova comes from a set down to outlast Svitolina in a grueling 2h59m!#QatarTennis https://t.co/DA5r55D9b7Svitolina hasn't been able to make much of an impact this season. First-round exits in Adelaide, followed by early losses in Dubai and Qatar are testimony to her poor form.