Former Chelsea star, Shevchenko drums support for Ukraine as war with Russia rages on

Ukraine football legend Andriy Shevchenko has become the first ambassador of a charity created by Volodymyr Zelensky to support the country at war.

Speaking to the BBC, the former Chelsea, AC Milan and Dynamo Kyiv striker pleaded for donations.

“This war is cruel. It’s atrocious. It’s a genocide.” he said.

“It was important for me to find a way to help my country. Ukraine is paralyzed, it’s impossible to run the economy, we are being shelled every day and people are dying.”

He says all money raised by the charity United 24 will go straight into the national bank of Ukraine, and then will be distributed to help with the war effort.

All sport has been suspended in Ukraine, because all mass gatherings are currently banned under martial law.

But on June 1, Ukraine will return to competitive action in their delayed World Cup playoff against Scotland.

“Many of them didn’t have the opportunity to train at all. But I believe a miracle is possible, because I know what kind of motivation they have.”

When asked about his relationship with former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, Shevchenko said he hasn’t spoken to him since the start of the war.

Russian football clubs have been suspended from all competitions by Fifa and Uefa.

“As long as there is a war in Ukraine, no Russian athlete should be allowed to participate in any competition” Shevchenko said.

“Because of Russia, our athletes are deprived from doing any sports. And they could be killed at any moment.”