Former football star Andriy Shevchenko, one of the most famous Ukrainian icons on the world stage, called on his country to unite in the face of the threat from Russia.
Russia recognized two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as independent states, and signaled armed forces to enter them.
“Today is a difficult time for all of us,” Shevchenko, a former Ukraine and AC Milan attacking star, who lives in London, said on his Instagram and Twitter accounts on Wednesday. But we must unite. I am always proud of my people and my country. We have gone through many difficult times together and in the last 30 years, we have formed as a country. A country of loyal, hard-working and freedom-loving citizens.. This is our most important asset.
Shevchenko is the most prominent scorer of the Ukrainian national team with 48 goals, and crowned with Milan the Champions League title in 2003 and also won the Golden Ball award in 2004, and he also previously played for Dynamo Kiev and Chelsea.
During his career as a coach, Shevchenko led the Ukrainian national team to the European Nations Cup last year, and also coached Genoa, Italy, for only two months this season.