Everton and Ukraine defender Vitaliy Mykolenko admits he has been deeply moved by the touching gestures of his colleagues amid the war raging in his homeland, including a generous offer from teammate Donny van de Beek.
The 22-year-old has been "pleasantly shocked" by the willingness of those around him at Goodison Park to house Ukrainian refugees or offer him personal support. The United Nations estimates that at least four million people have fled their homes since Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to invade their neighbouring country in late February.
The Premier League has shown its solidarity with Ukraine by holding moments of reflection ahead of kick-off and handing captains special blue and yellow armbands. Meanwhile, Mykolenko shared a moving embrace with compatriot Oleksandr Zinchecnko ahead of a fixture against Manchester City two days after the invasion.
