Captain of the Russian football team responds to messages from Ukrainians Yarmolenko and Mykolenko: You can’t offend us, we understand everything! peace and kindness to all

Artem Dzyuba, captain of the Russian soccer team, broke his silence after being criticized by the Ukrainians Andriy Yarmolenko, West Ham footballer, and Vitaliy Mykolenko, Everton. Both Premier League players ‘pointed out’ the Zenit player for his silence about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “I know some of you like to show off your balls…on camera (referring to Dzyuba’s penchant for posting videos on the social network Tiktok), but now it’s time to show off your balls in real life. Thanks for your attention. Glory to Ukraine!” Yarmolenko wrote. Mykolenko was less ironic and more aggressive in attacking him: “While you keep silent, bitch / pu .., with your fellow assholes, peaceful citizens are killed in Ukraine. You will be locked in your cave for the rest of your life and, above all, that of your children. And I get happy!”.

Hours after those messages, Dzyuba picked up the gauntlet and spoke out on his Instagram account. “Until recently, I did not want to talk about the topic of what happened in Ukraine. I did not want to, not because I am afraid, but because I am not a political expert, I never got into it and I did not intend to (unlike a lot of political scientists and virologists who recently appeared on the Internet). But like everyone else, I have my own opinion. Since this topic attracts me from all sides, I will express it. I am against any war. War is a dreadful thing. But I am also against human aggression and hatred, which every day take on a kind of devastating scale. I’m not afraid to be Russian. I am proud to be Russian. And I don’t understand why athletes have to suffer now. I am against double standards.said the Russian captain.

Dzyuba continued to raise the tone of his message: “Why do they hang all the dogs? Why has everyone shouted that sport stays out of politics, but at the first opportunity, when it comes to Russia, this principle is completely forgotten? I repeat, war is scary. In stressful situations, people show their true essence, sometimes negatively. How much anger, dirt and bile has now been poured out on the entire Russian people, regardless of their position and profession. Those thousands of people who write insults and threats, line up! It is doubly strange to hear all this from people to whom Russia has given much, much in their lives. All of this only creates more negativity. The war will end but human relations will remain and it will be impossible to go back. Keep this in mind.”

The Zenit St. Petersburg player saved the direct response to Yarmolenko and Mykolenko’s comments for last: “To some colleagues who sit on their butts in mansions in England and say nasty things: You can’t offend us, we understand everything! Peace and goodness to all!” (D)