ON THE morning of February 24, Andriy Yarmolenko’s whole world collapsed.
A day earlier, he had waved goodbye to his wife Inna and one of his kids as they flew back to Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv.
West Ham star Andriy Yarmolenko with his wife InnaCredit: INSTAGRAMUkraine legend Yarmolenko, 32, was given compassionate leave by the HammersCredit: INSTAGRAM
Never in his wildest dreams did he envisage waking up in London to newsflashes of a Russian invasion and sudden fears his family and friends were in immediate danger.
Speaking for the first time since the war started to Ukrainian YouTube channel ‘Football 1/2/3’, the West Ham forward, 32, said: “When it all started, on February 24, I arrived at training and couldn’t even talk.
“I had tears flowing. I asked the coach to let me go home and then was asking myself: ‘What do I do next?’
“I didn’t believe this could happen. I sent them to Kyiv because my child had to have a scheduled examination by a doctor.
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Relieved Yarmolenko to collect family in Poland after they escaped Ukraine war
“Can you imagine what I was like when it started the next morning?
“I just wanted to run and hit my head against a wall — what a fool I was sending my family to Kyiv and I am sitting in London.”
Hammers manager David Moyes could not have anticipated these events either.
He has spoken of how helpless he felt in his attempts to provide comfort and support, while also revealing Yarmolenko spent almost 24 hours a day on the phone to family in that first week.
Thankfully, his wife and child are safe from harm. The star also admitted for all of Moyes’ and West Ham’s best efforts, his mind could not have been further from football.
Yarmolenko added: “Right now, when I train or when I play, this is the place when I can switch off for a couple of hours from all the problems.
“It is good for you but when it all started I didn’t sleep, didn’t eat, was constantly on the phone calling my relatives.
“David Moyes told me that I could choose whether to train or not and that I had to do everything I could to ensure the safety of my family.
Yarmolenko scored on his return against Aston VillaCredit: REX FEATURES
“I didn’t show up and then I realised I needed to remain professional so I returned. I was just going crazy and you need to be distracted.
“I read everything in the news for what is happening and then watch some kind of football or a movie.
“But even now, I don’t know what the other results are. It is just training ends and then the phone calls — all the relatives are alive and well.”
You can hardly blame Yarmolenko for not being too interested in the club’s race for the top four or their incredible European journey.
The Ukrainian’s team-mates gathered around him as he broke down in tearsCredit: GETTY
Yet he has more than played his part since he returned against Aston Villa on March 13 — scoring in a 2-1 victory.
He then struck in injury time to see off Sevilla in the Europa League, booking the club a European quarter-final for the first time in 41 years.
But his celebrations have been muted, closing his eyes and looking to the sky with tears running down his face.
Yarmolenko admits that before these goals, he would see fans on social media wanting him to leave to get his wages off the bill.
Yarmolenko struck again in the Europa League against Sevilla to win the tieCredit: GETTY
He added: “Now I feel love and respect from all the fans because they see how our country is fighting. They are trying to support us.”
Earlier this month, a Russian airstrike killed 47 people in Yarmolenko’s home town of Chernihiv.
Asked who is still there, he said: “My cousins help keep in touch with uncles, aunts.
“The ones there, where there is constant shelling going on, they are in a bomb shelter. They are hiding in basements, like all people.
The tricky winger handed one fan with a Ukraine flag his shirtCredit: GETTY
“It is honestly scary to talk about it — to think how constantly hostilities are taking place when I saw what was being done to the villages.
“I am now without tears. It is impossible to perceive it.”
Yarmolenko has told how his Ukrainian team-mates are doing their part to help their country. Some have taken up arms, others are helping with shelter, medicines and finances.
After the first bombings, Yarmolenko called the mayor of Chernihiv to ask “what is needed for the military”.
Yarmolenko has urged Ukrainians to ‘build together and help each other’Credit: GETTY
He added: “My message is that not all people can fight. Not everyone can shoot. Now we have to help each other. If we do not then no one but ourselves will help.
“I am sure we will definitely not be beaten by any country, so that’s why I am trying to help my hometown.
“I understand once this will all end many children will be left without parents, many families will be left without homes. We will have to build together and help each other.”
For now, Yarmolenko accepts showing strength to carry on representing West Ham on the pitch is all he can do.
Yarmolenko is showing strength on the pitchCredit: REX FEATURES
He said: “You see all these people in the stands with flags of Ukraine, you see how your relatives and own people fight — how can you go out there not to play football?
“Go out and fight how your people fight. Thank God, I managed to score important goals for the team and show how strong we are whatever happens to us.
