Kucheriavyi reveals ordeals of family and friends in Ukraine
St Johnstone winger Max Kucheriavyi has detailed the ordeals facing family and friends he has been in touch with in his native Ukraine.
The 19-year-old's family fled their home after Russia invaded, while he has been in contact with a fellow player whose team are stuck at their training ground with no power or aid.
In an interview with Saints TV, Kucheriavyi, who is on loan with Kelty Hearts, said of his family: "They had to leave their home in Kyiv and they moved, not too far, but still to a safer place. Fortunately they had a chance to leave Kyiv but loads ofpeopledidn'thavethechance.
"I know people who have to sleep in bunkers, who don't have heating or electricity and in some areas they don't even haveanyinternetorphoneconnectionsotheycan'tgetintouch with their families.
"I am in touch with (my family) all day long, even in touch with a lot of Ukrainian people in Poland who do a lot of volunteer stuff to help women and kids cross the border.
"I've got friends from east Ukraine and one of my big friends is from Mariupol city, which is close to Donetsk.
“Inmariupolit'sahumanitariancatastrophenow.fortunately my friend could leave the city but his family is still there and they get in touch with him very, very rarely because they just don't have any internet,” added Kucheriavyi.
"My other friend is stuck in the training ground with his team-mates and they don't have any heating or electricity andit'sveryhardtogetthemany humanitarian aid because they just don't want to stop shooting people.
"It'sjustso,sohardforthemto provide any help but hopefully it can stop soon and the government can arrange some corridors for civilians."
Kucheriavyi praised his employersfortheirsupportand admitted it was hard to concentrate on football, but that the game was also a release.
"I'm concerned with everything that is going on back home, sleeping much less than I normally do, but can't and won't complain," said the teenager,whohashelpedraisemore than£5,000tosupportcharities helping Ukrainian people.
"Football is the only thing, when I can get away from my home,tostopmethinkingabout the war back home."