THIS IS A GREAT ACT OF SOLIDARITY WITH MY COMPATRIOTS
Before the war, Oleksiy Bykov developed his sporting talent in the city that became a symbol of heroic resistance put up by the Ukrainian soldiers after 24 February. For three months (until May 2022), the Russians laid siege to Mariupol, disregarding ceasefire conditions and promises to create humanitarian corridors. Estimates put the number of civilians killed at over 20,000. Nearly 90% of the city was bombed. The Russians were intent upon seizing Mariupol because it would enable them to gain a land corridor to Crimea. On 30 September 2022, they achieved their goal.
“For my family, the war started much earlier, already in 2014,” Oleksiy Bykov recalls. “We were living in the Donetsk region at the time. After the fighting broke out, we had to leave our house. I was 16 years old and thought we would find peace. But that didn’t happen. The conflict with Russia was intensifying all the time. Eventually it came to the point where the war engulfed the whole country.”
Many athletes have been able to continue training thanks to the help of Polish teams.
“Clubs in Poland have provided Ukrainian athletes with everything they need. This is a great act of solidarity with my compatriots. Our professional plans become less important at the moment. The most important thing is for peace to come to Ukraine.”
Oleksiy Bykov, 24, a former FK Mariupol football player.
