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Former Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, 37, is called up to fight in the Russian FORCE – just a week after Vladimir Putin announced a partial military mobilization amid escalation of conflict in Ukraine
- Diniyar Bilyaletdinov has been drafted into the Russian Armed Forces
- The 37-year-old played for Everton in the Premier League for three years
- Bilyaletdinov’s father confirmed that his son had previously served in the army
- The news comes after Vladimir Putin ordered a partial military mobilization
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Former Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov has been called up to fight in Ukraine according to Russian media reports.
Bilyaletdinov spent three years at Goodison Park after then Toffees boss David Moyes brought him to the club for £9 million in 2009.
After returning to his native Russia in 2012, the 37-year-old retired from football in 2019 after a brief stint with Lithuanian club FK Riteriai.
The news comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s partial mobilization order amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
As a result of the ruling, military-age men who have previously served in the armed forces and have certain military specialties can be drafted.
The decree, which came into effect last week, sees 300,000 Russians being called upon to serve in the ongoing conflict.
News of the mobilization in Russia has caused panic among a civilian population largely shielded from the horrors of the ongoing conflict.
Former Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov has been drafted into the Russian armed forces
Troops have been deployed on the Georgian border to prevent people from fleeing on land, while Russian planes have been ordered to refuse passage to men between the ages of 18 and 60 in an attempt to halt the exodus.
The US embassy in Moscow has advised that all Americans remaining in the country leave immediately to avoid being enlisted in the armed forces.
Speaking with Russian Publication Sports24Diniyar’s father, Rinat Bilyaletdinov, revealed that his son had been summoned.
Bilyaletdinov (right) played for Everton in the Premier League for three years
Bilyaletdinov (front row, center) played 46 games for the Russian national team
The elder Bilyaletdinov also confirmed that Diniyar had previously served in the Russian armed forces, but insisted he had only done so in a sporting role.
“Yes, Diniyar has been subpoenaed.
“He served in the sports line more than 19 years ago when he played in the youth team. It had been a long time, the order came, the oath taken.
“He has spent his entire military service in the sport. Title – private. I don’t know the military specialty – construction battalion or railroad troops.”
Bilyaletdinov played 46 games for the Russian national team between 2005 and 2012 and was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008.