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Featured Image Credit: Image: Sky Sports
Topics: Manchester City, Everton, Ukraine
Josh Lawless
Ukrainian pair Oleksandr Zinchenko and Vitaliy Mykolenko shared a wonderful and powerful embrace at Goodison Park after this week's events.
The duo have both been left incredibly downhearted and concerned after Vladimir Putin engineered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine from Russia, with the two having family back home.
Both were included in their respective matchday squads for today's game after confirming their desire to be selected and the two were both applauded by both sets of supporters pre-match.
Everton supporters’ groups unveiled a banner in solitary with Mykolenko, with the words "We stand with Ukraine" - while the players walked out with the Ukrainian flag draped over them.
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And the two hugged on the halfway line before the game in heartwarming scenes.
Zinchenko, who wore a t-shirt with the message, 'No War', has been very vocal about the situation in his home country - taking to Instagram to post a picture of Russia president Vladimir Putin to his Instagram story, with the caption: “I hope you die the most painful suffering death, creature.”
The post was taken down, with the former FC Ufa player claiming it was deleted by Instagram.
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The 25-year-old attended a peaceful vigil at Manchester City centre alongside hundreds of compatriots on Thursday.
Mykolenko only recently joined Everton from Dynamo Kyiv in the January transfer window and told fans on social media that his parents are back home and he is powerless to helping them.
Zinchenko was particularly emotional on the substitutes bench pre-match and had a tear flowing down his cheek.