Former Chelsea striker and Ukraine legend Andriy Shevchenko has opened up on how the devastating effect of Russia ’s invasion on his country has left him unable to utter Vladimir Putin ’s name.
Russia began advancing into the eastern European nation late in February as Putin declared war, claiming his desire was to eradicate nazism from Ukraine. Bombs have been dropped on cities such as Kyiv, Mariupol and Kherson in their bid to occupy the cities.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed last week that around 1,300 of his troops had lost their lives during the conflict during a news briefing, although the loss of life for Russian soldiers is thought to be much higher.
An emotional Shevchenko, speaking to Jamie Redknapp for The Daily Mail, described how he learned the war had started from a call from his mother and gave a heartbreaking account of the effect that bombs being dropped on his country has had.
“I was sleeping. I got a call. It was my mum. She said: ’The war has started’. We couldn't believe that Russia would take that step and start the war. We were in shock,” he recalled. “You feel every bomb that touches the ground because the house is shaking. This is what the war is now. It's in that stage where the Russians surround the city and are just bombing. They don't stop. It's relentless."
Shevchenko has told of his fear at leaving his family in his native land. His mother is determined to defend her country and has stayed behind after leaving the capital Kyiv, with no way out for trapped citizens after ceasefires allowing them to leave were broken.
“It doesn't give the Ukrainian people the chance for humanitarian corridors," he added. "My mum is there. My sister is there. My uncle. My aunty. My cousin. My friends – some in the frontline. They stand for our country, for our freedom, for our choice, for our pride. We defend. We fight. We have to. We don't have a choice.”
The 45-year-old, who played for Chelsea between 2006 and 2010 after signing from AC Milan for £30m, went to become Ukraine’s manager and guided them to Euro 2020. The legendary striker then left for a brief spell with Genoa in Serie A, only to be sacked just months before the war began.
The events in his homeland have left him unable to speak Putin’s name — instead referring to the Russian tyrant as “someone else”. But Shevchenko — who paid tribute to frontline soldiers and media workers reporting on the invasion — is adamant that his people will not be defeated.
“The position of President Volodymyr Zelensky was very important," he said. “He could have left. But he sent a clear message to say he would stay and that we had to defend our country. That united the Ukrainian people. He stayed with them, and we won't give up.
“We fight for our choice, for our freedom, for our democracy. When you see the people in the street, going with no arms to stop the tank, that is so powerful. We're going to defend to the end. Russia is not welcome.”
He later said: “Ukraine's independence is only 30 years old. When I first started playing football, that was just when we became independent. From the first day to now, I've always been proud to be Ukrainian, and someone else is not going to dictate to us."
