OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO visited a school devastated by Russian attacks in Ukraine.
Arsenal star Zinchenko, 26, and former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko, 46, are ambassadors for United24.
That is the initiative set up by heroic president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to receive charitable donations to support Ukraine, who are fighting to defend their territory against the illegal Russian invasion.
Zinchenko and Shevchenko – who coached the Ukrainian national team between 2016-2021 – travelled to the Mykhailo-Kotsyubinsky Lyceum in Chernihiv Oblast, northern Ukraine.
The village was under occupation for 33 days from February 27 last year, with around 100 people hiding in the shelter inside the secondary school.
A third of them were children, with the youngest only two months old.
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On March 4, Russian missiles fired on the school, killing a worker on the first floor and destroying 90 per cent of the roof as well as the classrooms for physics, computer science and chemistry.
Funds will be raised to rebuild the school from the Game4Ukraine charity match.
It will be held at Shevchenko’s old stomping ground, Stamford Bridge, on August 5.
Zinchenko and Shevchenko will captain each side, Team Yellow and Team Blue, the two colours of the Ukrainian flag, and tickets are on sale now.
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Zinchenko enjoyed a strong first season at Arsenal as he cemented himself among the club’s most important players.
However, he suffered disappointment at the end of the season as the Gunners’ saw their title challenge fade away after a run of poor results allowed Manchester City to overtake them.
He was heartbroken by the scenes from his homeland after Russia invaded back in February 2022.
And he was anxious over the well-being of his family – with his granddad and aunt refusing to join the thousands fleeing the country.
Zinchenko was desperate to go and help his people – but was convinced by family and friends to stay in the North West and carry on playing for former side City.
In the meantime, he has done his bit to keep his country’s sad plight in the public eye.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
