Vitalii Mykolenko’s brave dad was due to watch Everton play Manchester City but instead ended up joining the fight to save their homeland.
His father, Sergei, was set to visit Goodison Park for the first time in February of last year but his plans were disrupted when Russia invaded Ukraine. Mykolenko discovered his dad’s brave move in an emotional phone call as he was driving to Finch Farm for preparations for the game.
Reflecting on that conversation with his mum, Olesia, he said: “I don’t have kids yet but I remember my first thought being, ‘My father is never going to meet my kids.’ That was my first thought.”
READ MORE: Everton have quietly found new hero and magical Leicester City moment proves it
MICHAEL BALL: Sean Dyche has a nine-goal secret weapon he's yet to use at Everton
Almost 12 months on from the invasion of Ukraine, Mykolenko is a popular figure on Merseyside who has established himself as the first choice left-back for what is now his third Everton manager. He sealed the move from Dynamo Kyiv on New Year’s Day, 2022, and has played a prominent role in two of the club’s best days since then - scoring in the crucial 2-1 win at Leicester City during last season’s relegation battle and setting up the important second goal in the win over Crystal Palace in October, a game that was the high expression of what Frank Lampard was trying to build at Goodison before Everton’s season plunged into chaos. He also had the honour of wearing the captain’s armband in a pre-season friendly with his former club that was held to raise funds for the humanitarian effort in Ukraine.
His time as a Blue has been far from easy though, the war in his homeland a harrowing backdrop to his efforts to settle in to life in Liverpool. That challenge is best highlighted by the events of late February of last year. Mykolenko had booked flights for Sergei to visit him on February 23. Sergei did not board the plane however and, the following day, the world watched in horror as Russia attacked. The next day, the Friday before the home game with City that Sergei was scheduled to attend, Mykolenko spoke with his mum.
In an interview with his club, Mykolenko recalled the conversation that followed as she explained Sergei had left his job as a builder to join the military and defend their homeland. He said: “I was totally shocked. I cried. I remember the moment she told me vividly. I was driving into the training ground the day before the Manchester City game, the game he was supposed to be here for. This is a war. It was the second day and there was a sense of shock everywhere. I don’t have kids yet but I remember my first thought being, ‘My father is never going to meet my kids.’ That was my first thought.”
Sergei was involved on the frontline, prompting concern for his safety that was heightened by fears messages to his family would be intercepted by Russian intelligence agents and potentially increase the danger he faced. Mykolenko said: “My father was in a bunker. He had little or no connection to use his phone, so we spoke rarely and using text messages was dangerous because we weren’t sure if Russian soldiers could intercept them and gain information. When I did manage to speak to him, he told me he wasn’t scared. I was.”
Sergei is still in the military but is now based in Kyiv, where US president Joe Biden made an historic visit on Monday. While he could still be sent to the frontline, this has provided some relief for Mykolenko: “Now I get to speak to my parents every day but in those first months, I’d call my mother at least twice a day to check she was okay and to see how she was and if she had heard from him.”
Life remains a challenge for his parents, who he described as “perfect role models”, he explained: “They are not okay, but relatively okay, I guess. Normal. In Ukraine, now the biggest problem is electricity and the lack of it. I’m really happy because my parents now live in a house, rather than an apartment, and they have their own fireplace. This is so important when there is no electricity.”
But Sergei, whose son described him as “incredibly brave”, finally got the chance to visit Merseyside last month. It was on this trip Sergei saw how popular the 23-year-old had become. He said: “When my father visited me, we drove into the city centre to go to Everton Two in Liverpool One. It was a crazy feeling because as we entered the shop it felt like I’d just walked into my house where all my friends were waiting for me. Everyone welcomed me... ‘How’s it going, Myko?’... I’m quite a quiet guy and I like to keep myself to myself, so I love that they have that relationship with me but I also feel quite shy. My dad was completely shocked that everyone knew me, everyone knew my name and wanted to make sure I was okay. Of course, we’d spoken about what it was like but for him to see it for himself took him by surprise. He told me afterwards that it makes him very proud that I am part of such a big club and I think that gave him another glimpse of what sort of club Everton is.”
READ NEXT
- Everton could face second FA probe in a week after Leeds showdown
- Everton relegation rival launch appeal after 'surprising' Premier League squad rejection
'Wow' - Sean Dyche names two new Everton inspirations for Amadou Onana
Conor Coady continues Everton celebrations with 30th birthday party at Liverpool hotel
'Be braver with your words' - Seamus Coleman gave Sean Dyche a blunt view of Everton problems
