Vasyl Kravets, Ukrainian player in Spain: “I want to go to war and help my country, but I can’t”

Vasyl KravetsUkrainian defender Sporting Gijon, expressed regret and concern at the beginning of the Russian invasion in his country. From Spain, the 24-year-old footballer directly accused Vladimir Putin and wished he had the chance to defend Ukraine with your own hands.

“I want to go to war and help my people, but I can’t because I don’t know how to shoot, how to move, how to reload a gun… but the truth is that I want to help. If I could go, I would go to the front to defend my territory. It is obligatory for the heart of Ukrainians”, Said the soccer player in dialogue with A Diario de Radio Marca.

The attack by Russian troops on Ukrainian territory has already caused bloodshed and is the work of the Russian president, Kravets lamented.

“They are killing people, civilians, in hospitals… it’s all Putin’s fault, I don’t want to say it’s Russia’s fault, but Putin’s. We are a country that wants to live in peace. We do not want to attack anyone, we want to live well and in peace”, added the Ukrainian player who competes in the Spanish promotion.

Not to the war

Several foreign players and coaches were alarmed by the situation, with the dilemma of leaving the territory or continuing with their clubs.

“We are in a hotel due to this whole situation. (…) We ask for the support of the Brazilian government, which can help us, and you so that this video reaches the largest possible number of viewers”, said defender Marlon, 26, one of the thirteen Brazilian players of Shakhtar Donetsk .

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) accused Moscow on Thursday of having violated the Olympic truce by invading Ukraine, and announced its willingness to offer humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian athletes. The Beijing Winter Paralympics are held from March 4 to 13 and the Olympic Games ended on Sunday.

“IOC President Thomas Bach reiterates today his call for peace launched in the speeches he delivered at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games,” the IOC said in its statement.

Outside the country, several Ukrainian footballers took up positions, such as Benfica striker Roman Yaremchuk or Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko. “Glory to Ukraine,” tennis player Elena Svitolina wrote on Instagram.

Russian international footballer Fedor Smolov wrote “No to war” next to a Ukrainian flag and a halved heart.

Tennis player Andrey Rublev advocated “peace” after his victory in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tournament, which “has no importance” in view of the “terrible context.”