Roman Melnyk, director of the Metalist 1925 Children's and Youth Sports School, commented toUVon the shocking terrorist attack by Russians that damaged the Kharkiv club's office building.
Фото: Артем Войцеховський- Roman Petrovich, what happened to Metalist 1925's office?
- It was slightly damaged. It is located opposite the building where the rocket hit. It is no longer the office of the club, but of a children's academy. I often held meetings with our children's coaches there, met with the parents of the students. I was supposed to be in the office at 10am. The rocket arrived earlier, around seven.
- How badly was the office damaged?
- Windows and doors were blown out. My office is completely covered with glass. The office can be repaired, but the situation is unpleasant. We have no place to work now.
- Do you plan to repair the office immediately or does it make no sense now, given the difficult situation in Kharkiv?
- We will board up the windows and then see what happens. Together with the management, we will make the best decision. The shelling of Kharkiv and the region by the occupiers has become more frequent. The situation is quite difficult. But I am sure that the occupiers, who are causing us trouble, will pay back with even greater force.
- Has your house been damaged?
- No, but our coach, Viktor Kamarzaev, who lives nearby, had his windows blown out. But thank God, everyone survived, and the property will be repaired.
The apartment of our accountant was also damaged - windows were blown out and the balcony was destroyed. She lives in the building where our office is located. She was at home at the time and was frightened, but she is alive and well.
- Is everything OK with RSC Metalist?
- The stadium is less than one kilometre from the explosion. Everything is fine there now, but as we speak, anything can happen. Unfortunately, we have an arrival first, and then the alarm goes off.
- What is the atmosphere like in Kharkiv now?
- The situation is tense, everyone is depressed, but people continue to live and work.
- Where do the children from the Metalist 1925 Academy train now?
- The U-19 and the main team train in Shchaslyve, while the children's academy trains in Kharkiv. We took documents from the parents that the children come to classes only with their parents' permission. The children are returning to Kharkiv, so they need to do something, and that's what we are working for.
Of course, we follow all safety measures: if the alarm sounds, everyone goes to the shelter. There is no other way out, we have to keep living and working.
Andrii Piskun
