Former Chelsea striker and Ukraine international Andriy Shevchenko will house child refugees in his London home and assist 150 Ukrainians settle in the UK.
The former Ukraine boss, who was in charge at Italian side Genoa until January, is his country's record goalscorer. Russia continues to mount a military charge on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, which has already claimed mass casualties as the invasion enters its fourth week.
Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes in Ukraine and over 3million refugees have left their home nation in search for safety and security. The UN is describing the current situation as Europe's biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War.
The UK government has launched its 'Homes for Ukraine' campaign which is intended to incentive and encourage residents to re-home refugees if feasible – with over 90,000 lodging an interest in the scheme.
Shevchenko, who scored 22 goals in 77 appearances for Chelsea, has now confirmed that he has now decided on how he can help personally. The former striker will take a couple of Ukrainian children into his own home, while playing an active part in rehousing 150 refugees.
The 45-year-old has told ITV : “The war is very cruel and it's hard to see the cities being destroyed, the people dying. I'm a father of four kids and for me to see images of kids dying, the bombs going at a kid's hospital, I can't stand that. I don't think any person in the world can stand for that.
“I try to support my country, I try to raise attention, I tried to speak about exactly what's going on, I try to touch the heart of the people and then to understand the circumstances. Of course, I try to raise humanitarian aid and help my country, my people, refugees.
“I was waiting for the rules of the government and now it's quite clear... I was working with ambassador of Ukraine here and then I have a couple of friends who want to help and we're going to take 150 refugees here and put them in different areas and take a couple of children also in my house.
“I don't think there is a place in Ukraine where you feel safe now. I can't believe this, sometimes it's like a bad dream. I just wake up and say to myself "it's going to come back to normal situation" but I know it'll never happen. I know we have to deal with this situation, and we have to find a way to bring the peace in my country.”
Shevchenko was speaking for the first time since the UK placed sanctions on Roman Abramovich, who has now had all his assets – including Chelsea FC – frozen. The striker spoke briefly about the situation at his former club.
“It's a very difficult moment for me,” he added. “In this moment I don't think about football. My head, my whole attention is to help my country but I know the situation and it's a very hard moment for the Chelsea fans, for the club. I think you can't cancel the history of Chelsea. The fans have to just be strong and support the club.”
Shevchenko – whose glittering playing career also included stints at Dynamo Kiev and Milan – previously spoke passionately about the need to help his home nation.
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