'I will go and fight', Arsenal player Zinchenko says he will go to Ukraine if called up

Zinchenko will fight in Ukraine if called up. MAXPPP – MAXPPP

Arsenal's Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko announced that he was ready to go to Ukraine to fight, speaking to the BBC.

Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko has said he will leave the Premier League to fight in Ukraine if he is called up by his country which has been at war for two years with Russia.

"I think the answer is clear. I'd go (to fight), the 27-year-old left-back (60 caps) told the BBC's Newsnight when interviewed on a possible call to join the front.

The star of the London "Arsenal" Oleksandr Zinchenko said that he will go to the front if he is called

This was announced by the Ukrainian football player on BBC Newsnight. Asked by the presenter whether he would answer the challenge, Zinchenko said:
The answer is clear. I would… pic.twitter.com/SA2Cac7sOn

— Devana 🇺🇦 (@DevanaUkraine) April 5, 2024

He added that former classmates were involved in the conflict. “It's hard to understand that not long ago we were in the same school, playing in the playground or on the football field, and now they have to defend our country. Honestly, it's hard to accept, but that's how it is. We can't give up."

"I really hope this war ends soon."

The former Manchester City player told the BBC he had donated around £1 million (£1.16 million) ;rsquo;euros) to help the inhabitants of his country since the start of the conflict in 2022.

"I know some people might think that it’s much easier for me to be here (in London) than there (in Ukraine)&quot ;, did he declare. "I really hope this war ends soon."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week signed into law a law lowering the age of mobilization of the Ukrainian army from 27 to 25, the parliament said on its website.

The mobilization was a point of contention in a nation exhausted by more than two years of war with Russia, which resulted in enormous military losses. Mr. Zelensky said in December that the army wanted to mobilize up to half a million people to fight.

"We will never forget what they did to us"

The Arsenal player, who began his career with Russian team Ufa, said he was no longer in contact with his friends or former teammates who are in Russia.

"Since the invasion, very few of them have sent me messages and I can't blame them because it’s not “their fault,” he said.

"I can't tell them: guys, go demonstrate and do this or that, because I know they risk being imprisoned.& quot;

He added that the Russian invasion had shown "all Ukrainians that we can no longer be friends" with the Russians.

"We will never forget what they did to us, what they did to our people,” he insisted.

"And that's what I will teach my children. And my children will teach it to their children. This is not acceptable."