Ex-Liverpool star Voronin resigns as Dynamo Moscow coach after Ukraine invasion

Having enjoyed a 17-year playing career with spells at Mainz, Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool, among others, Voronin retired in 2014 after his final season with Dynamo.

The 42-year-old, who was born in Odessa, revealed the stresses of having to flee Moscow earlier this week, before standing down at the Russian Premier League side under manager Sandro Schwarz.

"I do not see any possibility of staying in a country whose army destroys our cities and fires at civilians", said the ex-Liverpool man.

He told German newspaper Bild: "We got out of Moscow before it was completely blocked. We couldn't land in Dusseldorf so we flew via Amsterdam. My father, my mother-in-law, my wife and my children are here now.

"I've been unwell for four days. Really bad. When I see all the pictures from my homeland. When I see the news. It's all as unreal as a movie. But a horror film. I hardly have any words left."

Voronin spoke passionately about Ukraine, even admitting he would 'probably have a gun in my hand' to help defend his homeland if he was there, as he spoke out strongly against Russian president Vladimir Putin, who he branded a 'son of a b****' and a 'criminal'.

"Maybe he just wants to be in the history books," the former striker said about the Russian leader. "But he will never end up there… or at most as a criminal.

"Stop that son of a b**** Putin, help the refugees. And send weapons so we can defend ourselves", he said when asked by Bild what Germany could do to help his homeland.

"I'm so proud of our country. We have beautiful cities, great people. We will keep fighting. And we will win. But the price is so high. All the dead… we live in the year 2022 and not in WWII.

"I have friends in Kharkov, in Kyiv, in my hometown of Odessa. I get messages every five minutes. It's hard to bear. I just want to help. With money.

"Whatever… and I don't know if I should say it: But if I were in Ukraine right now, I'd probably have a gun in my hand too."

Voronin represented Ukraine 74 times at senior level, which included four appearances on the route to the quarter-finals at the 2006 World Cup.

During his time on Merseyside, Voronin made 40 appearances for the Reds over two seasons netting on six occasions.

Dynamo confirmed on Tuesday morning that the 41-year-old coach's contract had been terminated by mutual consent.

There was more breaking news from another Russian club, with Lokomotiv Moscow's Markus Gisdol - appointed by Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick - also standing down from his position, citing Russia's 'war of aggression' as the motive.

"I cannot pursue my calling in a country whose leader is responsible for a war of aggression", Gisdol said in a statement to Bild.