Grigoryeva and Artyushchenko depart for Budapest Trophy after long delay

Ice dancers Vasilisa Grigoryeva and Yevgeny Artyushchenko departed Moscow for Budapest Trophy on October 14 after a lengthy delay. TASS reported that their flight left at 17:39 Moscow time instead of the scheduled 04:00.

Coach Svetlana Alekseyeva had earlier told RBC that the pair spent more than 15 hours at Vnukovo Airport, having arrived at one in the morning. She described a sleepless night in crowded waiting areas.

Their route involved a connection in Istanbul. Alekseyeva feared the daily schedule of the connecting service would require an overnight stay in Turkey and arrival on the tournament’s opening day. Confirmation of departure does not establish completion of the entire journey.

Budapest Trophy runs in Hungary from October 15 to 18 as part of the Challenger Series. The pair won the 2025 Russian junior championship, the Moscow championship and the 2026 Cumparsita event.

TASS also reported the departure of fellow ice dancers Milana Kuzmina and Dmitry Studenikin, who had experienced delays travelling to the same competition.