Former football superstar and Ballon d’Or Andrei Shevchenko, former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, tennis player Elina Svitolina, Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling champion Zhan Beleniuk… All displayed their support for their country, Ukraine, the target of a large-scale military operation by Russia since February 24, 2022.
Images of footballer Roman Yaremchuk went around the world on February 23, 2022. The Ukrainian striker took off his shirt after equalizing 2-2 for Portuguese club Benfica Lisbon against Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League. Underneath he wore a t-shirt with a trident, one of the symbols of Ukrainein support of his country.
For several days, tennis player Elina Svitolina, married to Frenchman Gaël Monfils, has been showing her support for her country on social networks with the hashtag #StandWithUkraine. On Wednesday, she wrote: I am proud to be Ukrainian. We stand together at this extremely difficult time for the sake of peace and the future of our State. Glory to Ukraine. »
A sentiment shared by ex-football superstar and Ballon d’Or Andriy Shevchenko. ” We have been through many difficult times and over the past 30 years we have shaped ourselves as a nationhe commented on Instagram. A nation of sincere, hard-working, freedom-loving citizens! This is our most important asset! Today is a difficult time for all of us. But we must unite! »
” Let history become a lesson so that it does not repeat itself »
The Olympic champion of Greco-Roman wrestling Zhan Vensanovych Beleniuk, whose mother is Rwandan, meanwhile displayed his serenity. ” It must be understood that panic is the main “weapon” that is currently playing against us, assured the one who is a deputy. The situation is really difficult, but it is completely controlled by the authorities and our military. We believe in our country! We believe in our armed forces! »
More universalist, the former world boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, whose brother Vitaly is the mayor of Kiev, affirms: “The world sees how reckless and murderous imperialism is, not only for Ukraine, but for the whole world as well. Let history become a lesson so that it does not repeat itself. »