Andriy Yarmolenko’s powerful message as Russia invades Ukraine

It’s been a tough week for West Ham winger Andriy Yarmolenko to say the least, as his native land Ukraine is being invaded by Russia.

Yarmolenko asked West Ham boss David Moyes on the 24th of February, the day the war started, if he could be given time off for a few days as there are some things that are more important than football.

Moyes assured Yarmolenko that if there is anything West Ham can do to help, the club would be there for him. The manager said to the media, “He’s not in a good position at the moment. We’ve given him a few days off and that’s totally understandable. He’s asked if he can have a few days off now and we’ve certainly granted him that. It’s a really difficult time for him and his family and we respect that”.

On Tuesday, Yarmolenko spoke out against the Russian national football team players and wants them to speak out against their president Vladimir Putin.

He made a video on his Instagram in Russian to which he said:

"“I’m Andriy Yarmolenko, a Ukrainian national player, I was born in Saint Petersburg but grew up in Ukraine and regard myself as 100 per cent Ukrainian. I have a question for Russian players. Guys, why are you sitting like s***heads, and not saying anything?“In my country they’re killing people, killing wives, killing mothers, killing our children. But you’re saying 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!"

In the emotional message Yarmolenko went on to thank his followers and said “Glory to Ukraine”.

During the Irons’ match at the London Stadium against Wolves last Sunday, the Hammers showed their unity and support for Yarmolenko and Ukraine before kick-off as the West Ham players warmed up with Yarmolenko’s name and number on the back of their training kits.

Declan Rice held Yarmolenko’s shirt before kick-off and stated that the team is with the Ukrainian international and the Ukrainian people in these tough times. Rice stated, “It’s so, so important for me, for the team, for everyone at the club to support [Yarmolenko and Ukraine]. The day it all started, we saw him at the training ground, and he was in bits, and so were all the lads for him.”

Striker Michail Antonio said that captain Mark Noble organised the tribute for ex-Dynamo Kyiv attacker and thought that the team should do it to show their support as a team and as a club.

Some fans in the London Stadium were waving Ukrainian flags to show their solidarity and will do again as the Premier League is set to show solidarity with Ukraine in all this weekend’s matches including West Ham’s away at Liverpool.

A couple of hours after the West Ham match against Wolves, Yarmolenko donated 3 million hryvnia to Ukraine’s armed forces which is the equivalent of £75,000. The transaction to the armed forces was posted by Twitter page Zorya Londonsk which is a Ukrainian football news page.

There were reports the West Ham player went to the Ukrainian-Polish border to get his family that fled for safety, however the truth of those claims is unclear.

The 32-year-old won’t be travelling to Liverpool with the squad as he isn’t ready just yet.

Moyes added, “We want to give him every opportunity with his family and his country. I feel helpless in as much as we as a country, not just me as a manager, feel like we can’t do enough. We’re all helpless really”.