Former AC Milan, Chelsea, and Dynamo Kyiv striker, Andriy Shevchenko has revealed that some of his family members are still under siege in Ukraine.
The 45-year-old retired Ukrainian football icon said her sister and her mother are stuck in a basement in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital city, which has been under Russia’s military attack for over two weeks.
Shevchenko’s extended family have been living in Obolon (Minsk District) since 1979, four years after the district was created in Kyiv.
Andriy Shevchenko who is currently not in Ukraine, a country under severe Russian military bombardment, said he had warned his mother and sister to leave the city before now. They insisted on staying behind.
The Ballon d’Or winner noted that it has become too late for them to escape from their hideout in the capital city, adding that the escape route meant for civilians has been attacked by Russia’s military.
Andriy Shevchenko who coached Ukraine in the last European Championship (Euro 2020), revealed that Russia’s troops have bombed down almost all the buildings in his neighborhood and surrounding towns. He also revealed that his mother and sister are stuck in the basement with other people who came to join them for safety.
However, the football icon who noted that there was no longer sufficient drinkable water, food and electricity supply in the city due to the bombardment of Russia’s troops, said his mother and sister are still okay.
“There have been a lot of battles,” Shevchenko told Sky Sports. “My mum and sister have now had some people move in with them, who were in terrible conditions.
“In Bucha there is no food, no electricity. They are friends of my sister and had been living underground in a basement for five days.
“There have been terrible bombing in that area. Bucha and nearby Irpin’ and Hostomel’ – I know these towns well, and they have been totally destroyed. There are no buildings left.
“I used to go to Bucha to train when I was a young player. It is awful…
“The humanitarian corridors have been attacked by Russian soldiers. If my mother and sister tried to leave, I think it would be more dangerous for them.”
Andriy Shevchenko’s nuclear family members are saved
Aside from some members of his extended family who are caught up in the ongoing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Andriy Shevchenko’s immediate family members are saved.
The former Ukraine national team head coach and former Genoa football manager is married to an American former model Kristen Pazik.
Shevchenko started dating the model in 2002. After two years of dating, they got married on July 14, 2004. The marriage is blessed with four children, all boys.
Andriy Shevchenko and Kristen Pazik’s children are Jordan, born on 29 October 2004, Kristian, born on 10 November 2006, Alexander, born on 1 October 2012, and Rider Gabriel, born on 6 April 2014.
At the time of publishing this report, it was not clear where Shevchenko and his immediate family are but they are certainly in Italy or probably in the United States, Pazik’s home country.
AC Milan designed a special edition kit inspired by Andriy Shevchenko
Recently, AC Milan designed a special edition kit inspired by the club’s legend Andriy Shevchenko to raise money for Ukrainians amid the ongoing invasion of the country by Russia’s troops.
Football fans can buy the kits via AC Milan’s official website for 50 euros. Proceeds from the sales will go to the Red Cross to support the organization’s activities in Ukraine.
Noted that Shevchenko played for AC Milan between 1999-2006 and 2008-2009. He helped the club to win one Serie A, one Copa Italian, one Supercoppa Italiana, UEFA Champions League, and one UEFA Super Cup.
