The European figure skating championships carried on Thursday in Tallin, Estonia, even as the skating world mourned athletes who died in an aircraft collision near Washington, D.C.

Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin put themselves firmly on course for their first European figure skating title Wednesday in the pairs short program. Coming off a win at the Grand Prix Final last month,

Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin led after the pairs short program on the first day at the European figure skating championships in Tallinn on Wednesday.

Former winner Anastasiia Gubanova of Georgia took a slim lead in the women's singles at the European figure skating championships after Wednesday's short programme. Earlier, Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin posted the highest score in the pairs short programme.