It's only a two-hour plane ride from Sochi, Russia, to Kiev, Ukraine. But the two European cities might as well be in different centuries right now.
In Sochi, the Winter Olympics are playing out with pageantry and optimism. In Kiev, smoke, ash and blood fill the streets. Ongoing violence between police and protesters of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych morphs into what increasingly resembles all-out war. Meanwhile, the 43 athletes Ukraine sent to Russia for the games sit suspended between the two worlds.
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For at least two members of Ukraine's Olympic team, the situation has become too much. "I don't want to participate when in my country people die," skier Bogdana Matsotska told the Associated Press on Thursday. She will sit out the rest of the games in protest of the violence.
Matsotska's father and coach, Oleg Matsotskyy, has pulled out of the Olympics as well. Matsotskyy announced the decision in a post to his Facebook page that also rebuked Yanukovych. The 24-year-old Matsotska had even stronger words for the embattled president.
"I think as a minimum he has to be jailed, and for a long time," Matsotska told the AP. "For all the lives that he took, for all the lives of innocent people that came peacefully to stand for their opinion."
Yanukovych sparked initial protests in November when he backed out of a landmark trade deal with the European Union that would have opened up Ukraine to Europe politically and culturally. Instead, Yanukovych strengthened ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, making many view Yanukovych as something of a puppet.
While large-scale protests started months ago, the violence hit a turning point this week. An encampment called Maidan in Kiev's Independence Square has become the city's epicenter of opposition and conflict. At the time of writing, 70 people has been confirmed dead in the clashes on Thursday alone.
Matsotska told the Associated Press she wants to be in Independence Square but hasn't been able to book a flight home. So for now at least, she remains in Sochi while sitting out the games.
"I am in Maidan but just with my soul," she said.
Matsoska was scheduled to compete in the women's slalom race on Friday, her third and final event of the Olympics. She hopes withdrawing from the games will bring increased attention to the escalating situation in Kiev.
"I hope that I will be heard by the world and that probably somebody will step in and will help," she said.
Other than Matsoska and her father, no other members of Ukraine's Olympic team have been reported to withdraw, although many have commented on the violence as a tragedy and a distraction. Matsoka told the AP the decision to pull out was not easy, but ultimately one she and her father had to make.
"It is really hard for a sportsman and coach," Matsoka said. "The people are dying and my friends and family are there and I cannot race after all this in Ukraine going on."
Protesters carry a wounded demonstrator in Kiev on Feb. 20, 2014. Hundreds of armed protesters charged police barricades Thursday on Kiev's central Independence Square, despite a truce called just hours earlier by the country's embattled president. Protesters pushed back the police about 200 meters and were in control of most of the square.
Protesters stand behind burning barricades during a face-off against police on Feb. 20, 2014 in Kiev. Hundreds of armed protesters charged police barricades Thursday on Kiev's central Independence Square.
Protesters burn as they stand behind burning barricades during clashes with police on Feb. 20, 2014 in Kiev.
Anti-government protesters walk on a puddle of blood left by a wounded demonstrator during clashes with the police in the center of Kiev on Feb. 20, 2014.
Protesters clash with police after gaining new positions near the Independence square in Kiev on Feb. 20, 2014.
Protesters advance towards new positions in Kiev on Feb. 20, 2014.
Dead bodies lay covered on the ground during clashes with riot police in central Kiev on Feb. 20, 2014 in Kiev.
A demonstrator stands on a balcony overlooking Independence square is seen during the face off against heavily armed police on Feb.20, 2014 in Kiev.
Fellow demonstrators carry a heavily injured anti-government protestor during clashes with riot police in central Kiev on Thursday.
A protester stands behind barricades during clashes with police on Thursday.
An Orthodox priest walks under fire during clashes between anti-government protesters and riot police in central Kiev on Feb. 20, 2014.
Activists evacuate a wounded protester during clashes with police in Kiev's Independence Square on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014.
Activists pay respects to protesters who were killed in clashes with police in Kiev's Independence Square, the epicenter of the country's current unrest, Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. Fierce clashes between police and protesters, some including gunfire, shattered a brief truce in Ukraine's besieged capital Thursday, killing numerous people. The deaths came in a new eruption of violence just hours after the country's embattled president and the opposition leaders demanding his resignation called for a truce and negotiations to try to resolve Ukraine's political crisis. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Activists carry a dead protester during clashes with police in Kiev's Independence Square on Thursday.
Activists and priests pay respects to protesters who were killed in clashes with police, a flag held by one activist reads "For Ukraine." in Kiev's Independence Square on Feb. 20, 2014.
Protesters stand behind burning barricades during a face-off against police on Feb. 20, 2014 in Kiev.
People look on the protesters who were killed in clashes with police in Kiev's Independence Square on Feb. 20, 2014.
An activist closes a victim's eyes while others pay respects to protesters who were killed in clashes with police on Thursday.
An activist holds a vest that belongs to a victim of a clash between riot police and protesters in Kiev's Independence Square on Feb. 20, 2014. A bullet hole is seen on the vest.
Protesters clash behind burning barricades during the face off against heavily armed police Feb. 20, 2014 in Kiev.
Activists pay their respects to protesters who were killed in clashes with police in Kiev on Feb. 20, 2014. Fierce clashes between police and protesters, some including gunfire, shattered a brief truce in Ukraine's besieged capital Thursday, killing numerous people.
Anti-government protesters reinforce a barricade during clashes with the police in the center of Kiev on Feb. 20, 2014.