Full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko was one of the most active players in the opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he even wished the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin on social networks.
At the start of the war – today 100 days have passed – he criticized Russian athletes for their silence and took a number of actions to keep the issue in the spotlight, for example, he was allowed to place the Ukrainian flag on the Premier League cup. .
Unlike West Ham compatriot Yarmolenko, he did not get a day off in early March – he took the opportunity to pick up his family at the border – but now the newspaper writes. Sun this City had to dissuade him from joining the territorial defense in his country.
The newspaper tells of 25-year-old Zinchenko, who was desperate to help his compatriots and protect grandparents and uncles left in Ukraine, and the club and teammates had to convince him to stay and not leave to take up arms. In the meantime, he helped organize dozens of relief trucks.
In a BBC interview with former player Gary Lineker, the midfielder said in early March that he felt helpless at the sight of the Russian military entering his country and hinted he was ready for the trip. “I will be very honest. If not for my daughter, not for my family here, I would be there. Me anyway. I know the people of my country, the mentality, I think the same way. I am very proud that I am Ukrainian, and I will always be Ukrainian…”, he said then.
According to The Sun, Lineker’s words were not in vain.
