UEFA reporter for Ukraine Bohdan Buha, who served as a grenade launcher in the Rubizh rapid response brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine after the start of the full-scale invasion, told Tribuna.com what he remembered most about Euro 2024.
"Perhaps the most memorable was an interview after the match with Belgium. I was asked who I wanted to flash live. I asked Tymchyk, because he had a very interesting duel with Doc, and there was something to talk about.
Oleksandr comes in, I start asking him something, but he's not there. He's just crying, apologizing for the result, saying how much it hurts him that they disappointed the military, the fans, and the people of Ukraine. And it's all so sincere and emotional that I'm almost in tears myself. Moreover, I know that his brother died in the war.
That's why when I read that the Ukrainian national team didn't get into the spirit, that they didn't care, I don't believe it. I'm not making a hero out of myself, but I'm really one of those "guys in the trenches". And I can confirm for sure that the guys are watching and worried about the ground zero.
I remember how my comrades and I gathered around one phone and watched Scotland vs. Ukraine in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. When our team won, it was one of my happiest days in the service. And when we played Wales, I watched the first half and went on a mission. Believe me, I have never been so eager to return, because I really wanted to find out if our team had made it to the World Cup.
I also remember how we were taken out for a day's rest, and Dynamo were playing Shakhtar. I was so excited that words cannot express it. I don't know what was worse in the end - riding for eight hours on the armored personnel carrier, where my ass almost froze, or not watching the match because it was not shown on Setanta's Megogo channels and I couldn't get a subscription quickly enough.
So, no matter what anyone says, it's all important. And personally, as a veteran, I am touched when football players talk about the military in their interviews. It never sounds pretentious to me. I respect Tymchyk for his sincere emotions and other players of the Ukrainian national team who spoke about those who are at war," Buga said.