Ukrainian footballer opens up after apartment is shelled and teammate is killed

Ukrainian footballer Evgeniy Budnik has admitted "my mind is not here" after being stranded in Turkey while a number of his family members remain in his home country.

Budnik and his teammates left for a mid-season training camp in Antalya, only for war to break out while they were there, meaning the players have been unable to return.

However, a number of the forward's family members are in Lviv, in the west of Ukraine, and a member of the club's youth team was among those killed as fighting broke out after the Russian invasion in February.

The Ukrainian domestic season is currently suspended as the war continues, with a resumption far from most people's minds as the situation continues to escalate across the country.

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"There is still training every day, but the coach has been very clear that anyone who does not feel up to taking part should sit it out," Budnik told The Guardian.

"On some days I do not feel like going anywhere near the pitch.

"My mind is not here: it is with my parents and brother in my home city, Kharkiv. There are attacks happening there every day. My family are just trying to survive, hiding in a basement. We are in contact constantly.

"As I speak, I am looking for ways to get them out as quickly and safely as possible."

After confirming 21-year-old youth team player Vitalii Sapylo had been killed in battle, Karpaty Lviv issued a statement in which the club said "We cherish the eternal memory of this hero."

Another footballer, 25-year-old Dmytro Martynenko of FC Gostomel, died when his apartment building was bombed by Russian forces.

Budnik revealed his own apartment building had been shelled while he was out of the country, with some of the residents losing their homes altogether, and has spoken of the unity within Ukraine in the face of Russian attacks.

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"It feels terrible to be so far away," he said, adding that a number of other Ukrainian clubs also had players away on training camps.

"We heard that a youth team player from our club, Vitalii Sapylo, died in battle and felt distraught. Our country is united against Vladimir Putin and fighting for the freedom and independence of Ukraine.

"This tragedy must stop now and the whole world must know exactly what is happening."

The comments from Ukrainian players like Budnik come after Premier League stars Oleksandr Zinchenko and Andriy Yarmolenko called on the football community to help end the war in their country.

West Ham forward Yarmolenko, meanwhile, has hit out at Russian players for their failure to speak out about the situation.

"I have a question for the Russian national team players... Guys, why are you sitting like sh******s and not saying anything?" he said.

"In my country they're killing people, killing wives, killing mothers, killing our children. But you say nothing. You've given no comments.

"Tell me please, what will happen if all of you together, united, show the people what is really happening in my country."