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Ukrainian ex-Liverpool star Andriy Voronin forced to flee job in Moscow after invasion of his home nation

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UKRAINIAN ex-Liverpool star Andriy Vorinin has fled his job in Moscow after Russia invaded his home nation.

The former forward, 42, was working as an assistant coach with Dynamo Moscow.

Andriy Vorinin had been working as assistant at Dynamo MoscowCredit: Instagram @voroninandrey
Vorinin, who made 40 Liverpool appearances, escaped to GermanyCredit: Action Images

But as war broke out, he escaped Russia and headed for the safety of Germany via the Netherlands with his family.

Speaking to Bild, Vorinin said: “I could no longer work in the country that is bombing my homeland.

“We got out of Moscow with a line machine before it was completely blocked. But we couldn’t land in Düsseldorf. We flew via Amsterdam. 

“My father, just operated, my mother-in-law, my wife and children are here now. 

“The little ones went to the German school in Moscow. But school doesn’t matter now.

“I’ve been unwell for four days. Really bad. 

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“When I see all the pictures from my homeland, when I see the news. It’s all as unreal as a movie. But a horror film. I have hardly any words left.”

Vorinin spent most of his playing career in Germany with the likes of Borussia Monchengladbach, Mainz, Koln and Bayer Leverkusen before joining Liverpool in 2007.

He made 40 appearances for the Reds and scored six goals before leaving in January 2010 for Dynamo, whose city-rivals Spartak have been booted out of the Europa League.

The 75-cap Ukraine international ended his career with the Russian club in 2014 before stepping into coaching.

Asked about the conflict ravaging his country and how Germany can help the situation, he replied: “Stop that son of a b**** Putin, help the refugees. And send weapons so we can defend ourselves. 

“I’m so proud of our country. We have beautiful cities, great people. We will keep fighting. And we will win. 

“But the price is so high. All the dead… we live in the year 2022 and not in World War Two.

“I am grateful to the people in Berlin. The whole world supports our country. 

If I were in Ukraine right now, I’d probably have a gun in my hand

Andriy Vorinin

“People in Russia are also opposed to Putin. I have messages from all over the world from former team-mates, from other athletes. 

“Also from Russians who write to me, ‘We’re sorry. That’s not us.’

“I and many other Ukrainians have friends in Russia. And they have friends, relatives with us. And then they attack us, Putin attacks my country. So many people have died already.”

Now in Germany, Vorinin insists his heart and mind is still with his compatriots and events back home.

He added: “My thoughts and my heart are in Ukraine. 

“I have friends in Kharkov, in Kyiv, in my hometown of Odessa. I get messages every five minutes. 

“It’s hard to bear. I just want to help. With money.

“I don’t know if I should say it but if I were in Ukraine right now, I’d probably have a gun in my hand too.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

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