Mykhailo Mudryk’s parents still live in war-torn Ukraine despite the country’s ongoing conflict with Russia, Chelsea’s £88m man revealed ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifier against England at Wembley on Sunday.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk star, who completed his big-money move to Stamford Bridge in January, explained how he still calls his parents every day to hear the latest on Ukraine.
Mudryk will play an integral role for Ukraine in Sunday’s qualifier against England, who triumphed in their opening game of the campaign on Thursday, beating Italy 2-1 thanks to goals from Declan Rice and Harry Kane.
Kane became England’s all-time leading goalscorer after scoring his first-half penalty, surpassing Wayne Rooney’s tally of 53 goals set seven years ago.
Although Mudryk is fully focused on inspiring an upset at Wembley, he can’t help but think of his family and loved ones in Ukraine.
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has revealed that his parents still live in war-torn Ukraine.
The Ukrainian star told reporters that he calls his family every day for updates on the conflict.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Sunday’s match, the 22-year-old said: ‘My parents are still there, still in Ukraine, and every day I call them and ask what is happening, what is the situation now and how are they doing? Everything about how the situation is in our country.
He went on to express his gratitude towards the British public, thanking England fans who have helped their homeland in any way since the Russian invasion.
“Their reaction to me is good because people ask me about the situation in Ukraine,” he added. “I am grateful to all the people who have helped Ukraine in this situation, it means a lot.”
Sportsmail spoke exclusively to Arsenal and Ukraine defender Oleksandr Zinchenko, who will team up with Mudryk on Sunday ahead of Euro 2024 qualifying.
The Gunners star, like Mudryk, is also grateful to the UK for its solidarity with Ukraine.
“Even now it’s very difficult, but without their support I can’t even imagine what it would be like,” he told Sportsmail earlier this week.
Oleksandr Zinchenko sat down with Sportsmail to discuss the issues in his native Ukraine
Zinchenko recalls a specific episode in the first month after the invasion of Russia, where two young boys approached him in a store and said they were with him in the middle of a fight.
‘I remember, the first month after the invasion, I would go to the store and little children would come up to me and say: “We are all with you, we are praying for you. And we hope that everything is okay.”
‘For me, these kinds of things are more sensitive than any other event. It means that even small children are living this situation with you.’
The left-back urged that, without his country’s army, Ukraine’s clash against England would not be possible, nor would his run for Arsenal’s Premier League title this season.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to our Ukrainian army for this opportunity,” he continued.
Mudryk and Zinchenko will face England, who got off to an excellent start to their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign by beating Italy 2-1 on Thursday night, at Wembley on Sunday.
Harry Kane became England’s all-time leading goalscorer after scoring against Italy on Thursday.
‘That we can still play football, continue to play for Ukraine. To represent our country at this level, of course everyone understands the pressure… every opportunity we get to play someone, we play for our shield, our country. We all understand the responsibility.
Mudryk, Zinchenko and their international teammates met with children who were evacuated to England as a result of the Russian invasion earlier this week.
Russian forces attacked the northern and southern stretches of the front in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region on Friday, even as Kiev said Moscow’s assault was subsiding near the town of Bakhmut.
Ukrainian military reports described heavy fighting along a line running from Lyman to Kupiansk, as well as south at Avdiivka, on the outskirts of the Russian city of Donetsk.
In an interview with his former club Shakhtar shortly after the invasion, Mudryk said: “I think this is a massive crime against the Ukrainian people. And there is no price high enough to pay for it.
‘Even the death of the one who started this will not be an atonement for it. Personally, I try to keep calm, to preserve common sense. I’m trying to figure out how to live and what to do in general.
I want the entire audience that I have on social media to listen so that people know the truth, get real information instead of twisted propaganda.
‘All the footballers I know are involved in humanitarian activities, helping people in any way they can.
“I think that the main thing that Ukrainian athletes can help with is glorifying their country in the world and drawing the attention of millions of people to the issue of the war in Ukraine through their victories.”