The Ukrainian athlete who staged an anti-war protest at the Beijing Olympics was forced to flee Kyiv after the Russian invasion

• Vladyslav Hareskevych represented Ukraine in the skeleton event at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
• He held up a "No War in Ukraine" sign after one of his runs at the Beijing games.

On February 11, Vladyslav Hareskevych held up a "No War in Ukraine" sign after competing a skeleton run at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing — a silent protest against Russia's escalating threats against his country's sovereignty.

Exactly two weeks later, Hareskevych spoke to Insider from his uncle's home outside Kyiv, after he and his family were forced to flee the city when their worst nightmare was realized and Russian forces began an all-out assault on the country.

Hareskevych said he was in Kyiv when the invasion started in the early hours of February 24, after Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech baselessly describing Ukraine as a false country that should have never gained independence from the former Soviet Union.

Immediately after the speech, loud explosions were heard in major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv.

"It's an absolute nightmare when we wake up at five in the morning because war starts. It's terrifying," Hareskvych said. "It's absolutely disgusting — in the 21st Century it's not OK."

One of the first things Hareskevych did was pick up one of his relatives at a university in Kyiv where she's studying and take her to a friend's house. As loud explosions were heard outside, they tried to stay safe by avoiding the windows.

After putting his relative on a train to Odessa, where her family lives, he went back to the apartment he shares with his parents, but they soon had to venture out into the city again since their building doesn't have a basement bomb shelter.

On Friday, Hareskevych and his parents decided to leave the city, traveling to his uncle's home in a town outside Kyiv.

It was from his uncle's home that Hareskevych spoke to Insider on Friday. He said it's much quieter in his uncle's town; there haven't been any sounds of explosions.

"I don't know how much time it will be quiet, but it's quiet," he said.

He said friends who stayed in Kyiv have been sending him pictures showing damaged buildings.

'We need real help'

Hareskevych said he's torn about what to do next. His uncle has children and so the family is considering leaving the country, but Hareskevych also wants to stay and defend his country. He said he's thought about returning to Kyiv.

He also wants to use his voice in hopes of inspiring other countries to get involved and help Ukraine defend its borders.

"It's not like a movie, it's a real war ... it's really scary," he said.

US President Joe Biden responded to the Russian invasion on Thursday by imposing new sanctions against the Kremlin, but Hareskevych said financial penalties are too little too late when there are already Russian tanks on Ukrainian streets.

"World governments are not really helping us. It's only talk," he said. "Sanctions will not help ... we need real help."

"Send military help. It's our country and we want to protect our country, our borders."

Looking back on his experience representing Ukraine at the Olympics just two weeks ago, Hareskevych said none of his athletic accomplishments matter now that his country is under threat.

"Medals and results, nothing matters now ... Your apartment, your cars, your money, what you collect, all your achievements — nothing matters," he said. "Now you only want to save your country, save your family, and bring some peace, because it's terrifying."