SOLIDARITY

Ukrainian Soccer Player Celebrates Goal With Anti-War Plea

Ruslan Malinovskyi’s teammates crowded around him for a group hug after he revealed a “NO WAR IN UKRAINE” message on the field.

Professional Ukrainian soccer player Ruslan Malinovskyi took a stand for his country on Thursday by taking off his shirt to reveal a “NO WAR IN UKRAINE” message after scoring a goal in a European tournament game. The 28-year-old midfielder, who plays for the Italian soccer club Atalanta, hails from the Western Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr, one of many regions suffering through a barrage of attacks from Russian troops after President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday night. In a broadcast of the event, Malinovskyi’s teammates were seen embracing the visibly emotional soccer player in support of his moment of protest.