![Bronze medalist Ilia Burov (L) of ROC hugs silver medalist Oleksandr Abramenko of Ukraine, Beijing 2022, in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province [CGTN-AP]](https://i0.wp.com/usachinatrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Bronze-medalist-Ilia-Burov-L-of-ROC-hugs-silver-medalist-Oleksandr-Abramenko-of-Ukraine-Beijing-2022-in-Zhangjiakou-Hebei-Province-CGTN-AP.jpeg?resize=525%2C295&ssl=1)
Defending champion Oleksandr Abramenko won Ukraine’s first medal of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games on Wednesday and celebrated by getting a hug from Russian skier Ilia Burov at a time of rising tensions between the countries. Qi Guangpu of China won the men’s aerials event, while Abramenko took silver. Burov earned bronze for the second straight Olympics.
“I’m so happy for this silver and really proud of myself that I’ve won the first medal for Ukraine at these Games,” Abramenko said. “I’m really happy that I made my five twists, although the landing was not really good, but enough for second place.”