SPEAK OUT
West Ham’s Andriy Yarmolenko and Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko slam ‘s***head’ Russian players for their silence following invasion of Ukraine, with Artem Dzyuba told to ‘show some balls’
West Ham forward Andriy Yarmolenko has joined fellow Ukraine star Vitaliy Mykolenko in hitting out at Russia captain Artem Dzyuba and the rest of the national team for staying silent on Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Everton full-back posted an angry message on Instagram, branding Dzyuba 'a b****' and his Russian teammates 's***heads', with Yarmolenko adding his voice to pleas for a reaction to the heart-breaking scenes in Eastern Europe.
7
Mykolenko looked visibly emotional on Saturday ahead of his side's clash with Premier League leaders Manchester City at Goodison Park.
The 22-year-old was seen in deep in conversation with City's Oleksandr Zinchenko before and during the match as both clubs showed their support for their home nation.
Mykolenko has since spoken out against his Russian counterparts in a impassioned post on Instagram.
Hitting out at Russia national team skipper Dzyuba, the Everton man wrote: "Whilst you remain a silent b**** along with your s***head football teammates, peaceful civilians are being killed in Ukraine.
"You will be locked in a prison for the rest of your life and most importantly the lives of your kids. And I’m glad."
West Ham's Yarmolenko posted his own message to Russian players in the early hours on Wednesday morning and, like Mykolenko, didn't hold back.
7
Most read in Football
7
‘I’m Andriy Yarmolenko, a Ukraine national team player, I was born in St Peterburg but grew up in Ukraine and regard myself as 100 per cent Ukrainian," he said in Russian, with English translation from .
The video post on Instagram featured a list of Russian players who were tagged, as he pleaded for a response.
"I have a question for Russia players," Yarmolenko continued.
"Guys, why are you sitting like shitheads, and not saying anything? In my country they’re killing people, killing wives, killing mothers, killing our children. But you 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.
7
"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!
"I know some of you like to show your balls on camera [Dzyuba] but now the time’s come to show your balls in real life.
"Thank you for your attention! Glory to Ukraine."
7
7
Russia were set to face Poland later this month in a World Cup play-off match, but the hosts have since been kicked out of the tournament by footballing governing body FIFA.
Mykolenko and Yarmolenko are not the only Ukrainian sportspeople to share their thoughts on social media.
City star Zinchenko uploaded a picture of Putin to Instagram last week with the caption: "I hope you die the most painful suffering death, creature."
Ukrainian former heavyweight champions Vitaly and Wladimir Klitschko, have also been joined by Vasily Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk in joining the fight for their country.
7
Topics