Former Dynamo and Shakhtar player Emmanuel Okoduwa told us how he met Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine while in Kyiv.
Emmanuel Okoduwa (photo: R. Malczewski)- "My reaction on February 24, 2022 was like any other person. Everyone was shocked. I did not expect this. It was a very horrible experience and some kind of madness. You wake up at 6 o'clock in the morning, hear sirens and explosions, and then you start thinking about what I'm going to do next.
I thought that maybe in 1-3 days everything would be resolved, but after two weeks I realized that the war is long and it is very dangerous, so I had to leave.
We all know what is happening in Ukraine now. I, or someone like me who has spent almost half of my life in Ukraine, definitely have to show my support. That's why I had to do it. Ukraine is like a second home for me.
The Ukrainian flag on my Instagram is just a moment of solidarity. I am with Ukrainian people to the end. I hope that Ukraine will win.
The trident tattoo is also a sign of my support for Ukraine. I really wanted to do it just because I love Ukraine.
I hope everything will be fine, Ukraine will win, and then everyone will have a good life in the country. I know that after the war, Ukraine will become an even better place. I think, why don't I even come back when everything is good. I will definitely come back to visit," Okoduwa said.
