Oleksandr Zinchenko: "About 800 Ukrainian schools were damaged by the Russians, more than 200 of which cannot be restored"

Arsenal London and Ukraine national team defender Oleksandr Zinchenko spoke about the barbarity of the Russian army, and also explained why it was decided to raise funds for the restoration of exactly Mykhailo-Kotsyubinsk lyceum in Chernihiv region with the help of a charity match in London (5 September).

"Some of the locals who went through the Russian occupation told us about soldiers of the enemy army in their homes. You look into their eyes and realise the mental trauma they will endure for the rest of their lives. It's a terrible thing. Even the air smelled different after hearing from them.

Since the war began, some 800 Ukrainian schools have been damaged by the Russians, more than 200 of which cannot be rebuilt. Why did we decide to raise funds for the reconstruction of the Mykhailo-Kotsyubynsky Lyceum? For one simple reason: this school was very important, because children from 10 neighbouring villages went to it," Zinchenko told AFP.