Andriy Yarmolenko breaks down in tears after first West Ham goal since Ukraine invasion

Andriy Yarmolenko broke down in tears after scoring for West Ham against Aston Villa in Sunday’s Premier League action.

The Ukraine international opened the scoring for David Moyes’s side to break the deadlock against the visitors with 20 minutes remaining on the clock.

Yarmolenko was given a few days off training on compassionate leave by the Hammers late last month after Russia invaded his home nation.

The winger has family in his war-torn homeland and the situation had impacted him deeply on a personal level.

Yarmolenko wore the captain's armband for his country at last summer's Euros and he has amassed over 100 caps for his nation, for whom he is the second all-time leading goalscorer with 44 goals.

Yarmolenko broke down in tears after his goal (https://streamgg.com/v/h38mps30)

His goal against Villa was the first time he had found the net since those events began to unfold and he could not hide his emotions.

West Ham 's stadium announcer read out after the goal: "A goal for West Ham and for Ukraine."

It was an emotional moment for Yarmolenko that set the Hammers on their way to an important 2-1 victory at home to Steven Gerrard’s side.

Hammers boss Moyes had previously revealed that the worried 32-year-old was "really upset" by events back home and spending hours every day on the phone to family.

Yarmolenko said after the game: "It was so emotional for me because of the situation in my country. It is so difficult for me right now in this moment thinking about football because every day, the Russian army is killing Ukrainian people.

The 32-year-old was mobbed by his teammates after the goal (Action Images via Reuters)

Last week, Yarmolenko called out the Russian footballers who had stayed silent over their nation’s invasion of Ukraine.

The West Ham star went on to Instagram to call on Russia's national team players to show some "balls" and speak out about their country's bloody invasion.

He said: "I am Andriy Yarmolenko, a Ukraine national team player. I was born in St Petersburg but grew up in Ukraine and regard myself as 100 per cent Ukrainian.

Yarmolenko has family in his homeland who he has been in constant contact with (Action Images via Reuters)

"I have a question for the Russian national team players... Guys, why are you sitting like sh******s and not saying anything?

"In my country they're killing people, killing wives, killing mothers, killing our children. But you say nothing. You've given no comments.

"Tell me please, what will happen if all of you together, united, show the people what is really happening in my country.

"I know a lot of you, I'm familiar with many of you and you all told me it shouldn't be like this. That your president is acting incorrectly.

"So guys, you have influence over the people. Show this! I am asking you, please!

"I know some of you like to show your balls on camera but now the time's come to show your balls in real life.

"Thank you for your attention. Glory to Ukraine!"

Yarmolenko, who has also made a donation to his his country's armed forces, was also part of a joint video urging players, fans and coaches to "Oppose Russian propaganda" and "Stop the bloodshed."

"It was so emotional. To be honest, I don’t know what to say. I just want to say thank you to my team-mates, who support me all the time, every day. To West Ham fans, they also support me and Ukrainian people and also to all British people, because we feel you support us. Thank you, really. "I felt the support from the fans and I tried to give everything on the pitch because I know how important the game was for us today. I'm not ready for 100% because the last two weeks I train maybe three or four times. Since 26 February, I had to rest for four days because it was impossible to train, I was just thinking about my family and my people. I just tried to give everything on the pitch."