Elina Svitolina is in a fog at Wimbledon because of the missile attacks on Ukraine

LONDON (AP) — Elina Svitolina spoke haltingly, pausing occasionally to sigh, as she discussed the deadly Russian missile attack on her home country of Ukraine, an event that weighed on her and mattered far more than the straight-set victory Monday that meant a return to the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Svitolina has relatives back home — a grandmother, an uncle, others — and while victories like the 6-2, 6-1 scoreline against Wang Xinyu mean something to them, and can serve as “a small light that brought a happy moment for Ukrainian people,” in her words, it is not easy to think too much about tennis.

Dozens of Russian missiles hit five cities in Ukraine, striking apartment buildings and a children’s hospital in the capital of Kyiv, killing at least 31 people and wounding more than 150, officials said.

“It was really difficult for me to really be here, in a way, and do anything. I just wanted to be in my room, just be there with my emotions, with everything. When you have these sad days, where you don’t want to do anything, it was this kind of day for me,” said Svitolina, who received permission from the All England Club to wear a black mourning ribbon pinned to her white shirt during the match.

“It's very close to our heart and a very sensitive topic, very sensitive emotions that we feel every single day,” she said at her news conference, hands clasped on the table in front of her. “But today was one of the days where it was even more difficult."

Earlier, during an on-court interview at the match's conclusion, Svitolina wiped away tears when she mentioned what was happening in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia, with help from Belarus, nearly 2 1/2 years ago.

In 2022, the All England Club barred all Russian and Belarusian players from competing at Wimbledon, but they were allowed back in last year, albeit officially competing as “neutral” athletes whose nations are not identified in the draws or TV graphics.

Svitolina said she would prefer if that ban were still in place but that there's nothing she can do about the policy change.

“For now, I just want to raise awareness, to raise funds for people in need, to raise support for the kids through my foundation. ... So many ways we can help people," she said, "and not only focus on the things we cannot control.”

Svitolina, who is married to French tennis pro Gael Monfils, was a semifinalist at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament in 2019 and 2023 and is seeded 21st this year. Her opponent in the quarterfinals will be 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, who advanced when No. 17 Anna Kalinskaya stopped playing because of an injured right wrist while trailing in the second set.

The other quarterfinal on the top half of the women's bracket will be 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko against 2021 French Open winner Barbora Krejcikova.

Ostapenko was a 6-2, 6-3 winner against Yulia Putintseva, who eliminated No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the third round. Krejickova defeated 11th-seeded Danielle Collins 7-5, 6-3.

Svitolina said she felt like she was “in a fog” on Monday, unable to go through her usual prematch thoughts and preparation.

Her team was relatively quiet.

The tactical notes were kept to a minimum.

Afterward, the excitement was muted.

“For many Ukrainians, they will share this feeling with me. We feel guilt that we feel happy or that we feel good. Not only because I’m in the quarterfinal of (a) Grand Slam, but in everything. You go (on vacation), you feel guilty because you’re not in Ukraine. Many people cannot leave the country. Many people are at the war. Many people are fighting, defending our front lines,” Svitolina explained.

"We've been living with this feeling for over two years. I mean, it’s nothing new," she said. “But yes, of course, it’s not a pleasant feeling to have.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Anna Kalinskaya of Russia receives medical treatment during her fourth round match against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Anna Kalinskaya of Russia reacts during her fourth round match against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic puts tape around her racket handle during her fourth round match against Danielle Collins of the United States at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic reacts during her fourth round match against Danielle Collins of the United States at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine plays a backhand return to Xinyu Wang of China during their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine is congratulated by Xinyu Wang, right, of China following their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine reacts after defeating Xinyu Wang of China in their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan plays a backhand return to Russia's Anna Kalinskaya during their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia celebrates after defeating Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in during their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic reacts during a fourth round match against to Danielle Collins of the United States at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine reacts after defeating Xinyu Wang of China in their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine waves after defeating Xinyu Wang of China in their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine addresses the crowd defeating Xinyu Wang of China in their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine addresses the crowd defeating Xinyu Wang of China in their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine waves after defeating Xinyu Wang of China in their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine reacts after defeating Xinyu Wang of China in their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine waves after defeating Xinyu Wang of China in their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine reacts after defeating Xinyu Wang of China in their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

An Israeli airstrike hit a mosque in central Gaza and Palestinian officials said at least 19 people were killed early Sunday. Israeli planes also lit up the skyline across the southern suburbs of Beirut, striking what the military said were Hezbollah targets.

The strike in Gaza hit a mosque where displaced people were sheltering near the main hospital in the central town of Deir al-Balah. Another four people were killed in a strike on a school sheltering displaced people near the town.

The Israeli military said both strikes targeted militants, without providing evidence.

An Associated Press journalist counted the bodies at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital morgue. Hospital records showed that the dead from the strike on the mosque were all men, while another man was wounded.

In Beirut, the strikes reportedly targeted a building near a road leading to Lebanon’s only international airport and another formerly used by the Hezbollah-run broadcaster Al-Manar.

Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire across the Lebanon border almost daily since the day after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage. Israel declared war on the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip in response. As the Israel-Hamas war reaches the one-year mark, nearly 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory, and just over half the dead have been women and children, according to local health officials.

Nearly 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon in the latest conflict, most of them since Sept. 23, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Here is the latest:

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis issued a new appeal for peace “on every front” is his Sunday Angelus prayer and spoke of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas against Israel.

“Brothers and sisters, tomorrow it will be a year since the terrorist attack by Hamas against the people of Israel, to whom I renew my closeness,” the pontiff said. He called for the “immediate liberation" of the hostages still held in Gaza.

The pope called for a day of prayer and fasting on Monday, the first anniversary of the attack - which he said sparked a war that has taken a heavy toll on Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

“From that day the Middle East has fallen into worse suffering because of destructive military actions that continue to hit the Palestinian people,” the pontiff said. "It is most of all innocent civilians, they must receive the necessary humanitarian aid.”

The pope repeated his plea for “an immediate ceasefire on every front," including Lebanon.

"Let’s pray for Lebanese people, especially for the people in the south forced to leave their villages.”

TEL AVIV, Israel — Ahead of the anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, the Israeli military on Sunday displayed thousands of weapons seized from the militant group.

The military, which created the display at a sprawling army base south of Tel Aviv, said it has retrieved more than 5,000 AK-47 assault rifles from Gaza and destroyed double that number, as well as seized thousands of other items including drones, explosives, RPGs, scuba equipment, machine guns, sniper rifles, anti-tank missiles and weapons manufactured both inside Gaza and in Iran, Russia and North Korea.

The army also displayed homemade explosives it said Hamas used to burst through the border barrier on Oct. 7. It said they were crafted specifically after years of studying Israel’s border during years of Hamas-organized violent protests along the fence, including as early as 2018.

“What Hamas did on Oct. 7 was storm Israel with all their abilities at one time,” said military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani. He said that the Israeli military had seized the weapons from Hamas, and Hezbollah in Lebanon, to study the types of weapons used as well as track where they came from.

As Israel prepares for a day of somber memorials marking a year since the attacks, the military said it was increasing troop presence in Israel’s south to protect memorials taking place along the Gaza border.

A large memorial planned by bereaved families was expected to draw a crowd of more than 40,000 in Tel Aviv, but will be broadcast with only direct family members and media in attendance due to warnings from the military of possible rocket attacks from Lebanon.

BEIRUT — The southern suburbs of Beirut were hit by more than 30 strikes overnight, the heaviest bombardment since Sept. 23, when Israel began a significant escalation in its air campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported Sunday.

The targets included a gas station on the main highway leading to the Beirut airport and a warehouse for medical supplies, the agency said.

Some of the overnight strikes set off a long series of explosions, suggesting that ammunition stores may have been hit.

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron called for “a halt to arms exports for use in Gaza,” saying it's urgent to avoid escalating tensions in the region, his office said.

Macron drew strong criticism from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by saying "the priority is … that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza.” He made the comments in an interview with France Inter radio, which was recorded on Tuesday and aired Saturday.

France doesn’t deliver any weapons to Israel, Macron said.

Netanyahu released a video statement in which he called out the French president by name and referred to such calls as a “disgrace.”

In a statement, Macron’s office said “France is Israel’s unfailing friend. Mr. Netanyahu’s words are excessive and irrelevant to the friendship between France and Israel.”

“We must return to diplomatic solutions,” it added.

The statement also said that Macron had demonstrated his commitment to Israel's security when France mobilized its military resources in response to the Iranian attack. French authorities did not provided details about France’s role.

Macron has called for an immediate cease-fire in both Gaza and Lebanon.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An apparent Israeli airstrike early Sunday killed at least 18 people in central Gaza, Palestinian medical officials said.

The strike hit a mosque sheltering displaced people near the al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in the town of Deir al-Balah, the hospital said in a statement.

An Associated Press journalist counted the bodies at the hospital morgue. Hospital records showed that the dead were all men. Another two men were critically wounded, the hospital said.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment about the strike on the mosque.

The latest strikes add to the mounting Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which is now nearing 42,000 according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths, but many of the dead were women and children.

BEIRUT — Powerful new explosions rocked Beirut’s southern suburbs late Saturday as Israel expanded its bombardment in Lebanon, also striking a Palestinian refugee camp deep in the north for the first time as it targeted both Hezbollah and Hamas fighters.

Thousands of people in Lebanon, including Palestinian refugees, continued to flee the widening conflict in the region, while rallies were held around the world marking the approaching anniversary of the start of the war in Gaza.

The strong explosions began near midnight after Israel’s military urged residents to evacuate areas in Beirut’s Haret Hreik and Choueifat neighborhoods. AP video showed the blasts illuminating the densely populated southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a strong presence. They followed a day of sporadic strikes and the nearly continuous buzz of reconnaissance drones.

Israel’s military confirmed it was striking targets near Beirut and said about 30 projectiles had crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory.

A man checks the site of an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Emergency workers inspect a building that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Israeli soldiers pray at a staging area in northern Israel, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

An Israeli soldier prays at a staging area in northern Israel, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

People check the site of an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Smoke rises from a destroyed building at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Mourners gather around the bodies of Palestinian men who were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)