Ukrainian soccer star Oleksandr Zinchenko confronted by realities of war in first visit home since the invasion. Oleksandr Zinchenko, a great soccer player for Ukraine, says it was difficult to comprehend on his first visit home since the Russian invasion.
The 26-year-old Arsenal player has been forced to observe the destruction that is spreading throughout Ukraine from a distance, but he has continued to use his position to increase awareness of the situation in his nation.
The defender had represented his country on numerous occasions since the war began, but he had been unable to return home due to the hectic Premier League fixture schedule. However, now that the English soccer season is over, he has got the opportunity to experience combat firsthand. Looking back on his journey, he tells CNN Sport, “It’s totally different when you see all this news from your phone, from far away.”
“First of all, let me say how delighted I am to be back in the country where I was born and raised and where I feel the best about myself.
Ukrainian soccer star Oleksandr Zinchenko confronted by realities of war in first visit home since the invasion
The national police reported that at least three individuals, including a nine-year-old girl and her mother, were killed by falling rubble while attempting to enter a bomb shelter that was locked.
Zinchenko, who is driven by the desire to make a difference, recently joined the board of directors of UNITED 24, a charity founded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Together with Andriy Shevchenko, they are leading a campaign to restore a school.
On August 5, a charity game between Chelsea and a rival team will be staged at Stamford Bridge in London. All earnings from the game will go toward the reconstruction effort.
