Manchester City footballer Alexander Zinchenko has expressed anger at former teammates in Russia who are reluctant to speak out against their country’s atrocities in Ukraine.
The 25-year-old defender Zinchenko played for the Russian club Ufa for a season and a half before signing with City in the summer of 2016.
But he is disappointed with friends there who have not condemned Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion of his homeland.
“I have friends there, a small circle, but now it’s almost nothing,” Zinchenko told The Guardian.
“I am just disappointed. The boys I know called me as soon as the invasion happened, sending me a message: “I’m so sorry, Alex, but there’s nothing we can do.”
‘Of course you can. If you are silent, it means that you support what is happening in Ukraine at the moment, and I cannot understand why they would do that.
“Maybe they are scared because we see photos on social networks of Russians who have been taken to prison if they protest.
Ukrainian Manchester City defender Alexander Zinchenko hits former teammates at the Russian club Ufa, who refused to talk about the war in his homeland
Manchester City fans offered their support to Zinchenko amid the bloody conflict
Russia’s invasion brought death and destruction to Zinchenko’s Ukrainian homeland
“But look at the players in particular or anyone with a huge audience.
“Can you believe that if they all post something on Instagram at the same time as the words, ‘Guys, we’re against the war, we have to stop it,’ everyone will be arrested?”
“Of course not.” And it’s such a shame that they don’t say anything.
Zinchenko hails from the city of Radomyshl, a two-hour drive west of the capital Kyiv, and says he has heard stories of Russian soldiers “hiding in the woods trying to find civilians in their cars, kill them and take everything.” that they have. “
Russian forces have now withdrawn from the region around Kyiv after failing to seize the capital and overthrow the government led by Vladimir Zelensky.
Zinchenko described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “creature” and wished him “the most painful death” in an Instagram post shortly after the invasion
The Ukrainian national regularly talks about the horrors unfolding at home
The invading military is now focused on the eastern regions of Donbass, trying to “liberate” the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk, where Russian-backed separatists held some control before the invasion in late February.
But new horrors of civilian suffering are uncovered daily as Russian forces withdraw.
The Kyiv Oblast Police Chief said on Friday that the bodies of 900 civilians had been found in cities around the capital, including 350 in Bucha.
The United Nations estimates that five million Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes during the conflict.
The bodies were exhumed from mass graves in the city of Bucha after the withdrawal of Russia
The wreckage of armored vehicles in Bucha after Russia’s withdrawal to the east of the country
Zinchenko said: “This is a nightmare. Shock for the whole world, the things they did. Terrible, scary things.
“They killed our civilians. They killed our children. They raped our women and girls. They killed our dogs and even ate them. I can’t even begin to describe how I feel about them.
“I hate them so much for everything they have done to the Ukrainian people and Ukraine. And I hate people in Russia who try to convince others that this is propaganda. This is a shame. How can they say that?
“People were sending me pictures, the real facts. The bodies of our dead civilians lay on the ground for two weeks. They must take responsibility for this.
Zinchenko admitted that it was difficult to concentrate on football amid the crisis at home
Zinchenko posted a photo of Putin on Instagram shortly after the invasion began, writing: “I hope you die the most painful death, creature.”
He admitted that it was very difficult to concentrate on football issues, as City are chasing a triple title in the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League this season.
They play Liverpool in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.
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