FEMALE referee Maryna Striletska’s home in Ukraine is surrounded by Russian forces who have looted her for food and water supplies.
Striletska made history when she acted as assistant ref in England’s 5-0 win over Andorra at the Andorra la Vella in October.
Striletska (L) is stranded in her native UkraineCredit: GettyThe World Cup Qualifier for Gareth Southgate and Co was the first time an England game had been refereed by an all-female team of officials.
Now just five months on she is stranded in the east of Ukraine as Russian forces pour across the border.
In an interview with the Mirror, Striletska revealed how the invaders took food and water from her home.
She said: “This is our life now. Me and my family sit at home, we are already into our sixth day of this.
“Sometimes there are explosions, we can hear tanks exploding with the shells that are inside them.”
“Russians will turn up to our homes with machine guns but they are hungry.”
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“They will ask us for food and water – then will take everything that we have.”
In 2020 Striletska was part of the first female team to officiate a senior men’s international game.
She also regularly officiates in the Europa League, Europa Conference League and the Ukrainian Premier League.
Striletska is part of a team with Kateryna Monzul and Svitlana Grushko, who both are also Ukrainian.
And Striletska has revealed she is ‘constantly’ talking to them, as Russia continues to wreak havoc across their homeland.
While Monzul and Grushko are in the west of the country, yet to experience much conflict, Striletska is in the east, close to the border with Russia.
She said: “I am constantly in touch with them, but it is calmer where they are at the moment. The invaders are all around us, we could not escape.
“Now it is calm in my village, but fighting is going on in neighbouring villages and we can hear the explosions and bombs there.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
