Hong Kong-based Ukraine footballer Oleksii Shliakotin describes ‘helplessness’ as parents forced into Kyiv bomb shelters
- Rangers goalkeeper Shliakotin details the ‘worst five hours’ of his life having failed to contact parents after Putin’s orders on Thursday
- Former Hong Kong-based ultramarathon runner Melnyk rages as ‘they come here without any reason’ and ‘take the life of my citizens’
The Hong Kong Rangers goalkeeper, who previously played for the Dynamo Kyiv and Ukrainian national youth teams, was on tenterhooks as bombs went off “two kilometres” from his parents’ home in his birthplace of Kyiv.
“I don’t think it’s possible to describe in full what I feel right now,” said Shliakotin, who posted footage on Instagram describing the nearby bombs “landing while my 60-year-old parents are inside”.
“It’s definitely the worst feeling I’ve ever experienced in my life – definitely the hardest moments I’ve ever been through.
“I haven’t slept since February 24. The worst part is the helplessness I feel, being that far away and just observing everything from the side. I’d prefer to be there now – at least I could take care of my parents.”
He watched Putin’s orders in real-time from Hong Kong, in what were the small hours in the Ukrainian capital.
“As soon as he finished, the Russian army began the invasion. I watched all these explosions live and I couldn’t get through to my parents for five hours. They didn’t pick up the phone. The worst five hours [of my life],” he said.
“It’s impossible to be ‘safe’ when the Russian army – one of the biggest in the world – is bombarding cities all over Ukraine.
“But I’m in constant touch with my parents. They have been mostly sitting in bomb shelters recently. I’m doing everything I can to organise safety for them – as much as possible, being in Hong Kong.”
On Friday, Rangers posted a photo of Shliakotin on their official Facebook with the caption “please pray for Aleks and his family”, receiving more than 300 likes.
“He gave the order to attack live, everyone can watch it. The Russian army invaded the independent sovereign country that is Ukraine.
“The Russian army launched air missiles and artillery strikes on the biggest Ukrainian cities. They destroyed most of our airports, are bombarding our residential buildings, and ruining our cities. They are killing Ukrainian civilians. Everyone who has internet can check all of the above.”
While his family confirmed their safety to him, he still feels guilty for being “far away” as “the Ukrainian army protects the territories of Ukraine”.
‘Devastating’: Ukrainians in Hong Kong taken aback by speed of Putin’s invasion
For Bogdan Onyschenko, a Hong Kong-based trailrunner who like Melnyk represented the Ukrainian team twice in World Cups, the suffering has only just begun.
“No, my friends and family are not safe,” Onyschenko said.
“It is not possible for anyone in the country to be safe when the entire country is being attacked from all directions. Civilians are absolutely being targeted - multiple kindergartens, hospitals, schools have already been hit, with many casualties.
“We are in contact with all our family and friends and have first-hand, real-time information, raw and unfiltered. Depending on how this war goes, we are facing a prospect of losing many of them by the time this all ends.”
Many have been frantically texting family and friends back home, while others from the Ukrainian-Hong Kong community are keeping a close eye on and sharing information via mobile messaging application Telegram.
“I just want [Hong Kong people] to know that in 2022, the modern civilised world, by order of president Putin, Russia invaded Ukraine with a war. A war that will take a lot of lives on both sides,” Shliakotin said.
“I’m extremely proud of the Ukrainians protecting our country. It’s impossible to describe how tough and fearless our people are, and how much they love our land. I’m sure we will stand till the end. The truth is on our side.
“I’ve received thousands of messages from Hong Kong people with words of support. Thank you guys, I love you and I appreciate every single word. I wish you all peace and strong health.”
In a Facebook post, The Ukrainian Society of Hong Kong said it was “shocked and horrified by Russia’s invasion” and “ask for an immediate cessation of this bloody military campaign which is violating our sovereignty”, providing a link to donate in support to “#StopRussianAggression” and “#StandWithUkraine”.
In the South Korean K-League’s 1-1 “Gyeongin Derby” draw between Incheon United and FC Seoul on Saturday, some fans reportedly unfurled banners with messages in Korean translated as “football, not war” and “peace in Ukraine”.
