Ilya Zabarnyi: "I thought about returning to Ukraine and joining the army..."

Ukrainian centre-back Ilya Zabarnyi of Bournemouth gave an interview to The Times, in which he told the British about the war in Ukraine.

- It's a very dangerous situation, many people are dying every day. My friends in Ukraine are scared. They can't go to work because of the air raids and the alarms. My friend was a soldier, defending our country right on the border, and a grenade came and wounded him in the leg. He was my age. We played against each other as children. I am proud to play for my country, but he is a hero. I talked to another friend who is defending our country, and he says it's hard mentally. You see people dying, you lose friends, school friends.

It's hard when I go out to play and I've just watched the news and a rocket hit the building. People were dying, my people, every day. I was there, in Kyiv, when it started. I know what it's like to hear the alarm and go to a safe place. I know how scary it is for everyone. And I'm thinking: what can I do the best for my country? I thought about coming back and joining the army. Just take up arms and learn. But no, I have to play. The Ukrainian people need me in this position.

Since the beginning of the war, I have donated a lot of money for our army, for our people, for my friends who are going to war and defending our country. I have food, a house, security, and some people don't. I need help. If Ukrainians don't help Ukrainians, why would Europeans, Americans or the British do it?" says Ilya.