Zinchenko reflects on emotional first trip home to Ukraine since Russia invasion

04 June 2023 , 17:17

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Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko (Image: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko has opened up about visiting Ukraine for the first time since Russia invaded his home country.

Zinchenko has worked closely with Andriy Shevchenko to raise money for Ukraine's war effort and the pair recently returned home, visiting a school in Chernihiv Oblast that had been hit by a Russian missile.

And Zinchenko says he found it sobering to see the destruction Russia's invasion has caused first hand. "It's completely different when you see all this news from your phone, from far away," he told CNN.

"First of all, I would like to say that I'm so happy to be back in my land where I've been born and raised, and where I feel the best inside of myself. To be honest, I'm not sure if I have enough emotions to show it to the other people when you see all these things.

"But in my head, there are a lot of thoughts. These kids don't understand … they just see the facts. Imagine you're going to school and then your school has suddenly been destroyed.

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"For what? For what reason? This is a big injury, mentally, for the rest of their lives. That's what people have to know. Imagine your kid going to school and then one day a bomb lands and hits.

Zinchenko and Andriy Shevchenko are participating in a charity match at Stamford Bridge called Game4Ukraine (DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP via Getty Images)

"This is a proper injury for the rest of their life. So that is what I would say is the most scary thing. Our kids are our future." Zinchenko and Shevchenko have also helped organise a charity match, the Game4Ukraine, which will be staged at Stamford Bridge on August 5.

The two will captain opposing teams, with the money raised from the event going towards rebuilding the school in Chernihiv Oblast. "The game for Ukraine and for the sake of Ukraine will take place at a stadium that I know very well," Shevchenko said after the game was announced.

"It is Chelsea 's home stadium, Stamford Bridge. I am sure that both Chelsea and Arsenal fans will support this match, as well as everyone who likes football and wants to express their solidarity with Ukraine."

Matthew Cooper