The players issued a message on social media as tensions with Russia escalated
A group have Brazilian footballers who play at Ukrainian clubs have requested immediate help to leave the country after tensions with Russia escalated and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law.
Brazilian players from Ukrainian teams Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk asked for assistance to flee the country in a video shared on social media as they remained at a hotel in the capital city.
Players including Junior Moraes, a Brazilian who received Ukrainian citizenship in 2019 and has 11 caps for his adopted country, issued calls for the authorities in his homeland to help them leave.
“All friends and family are waiting for a solution to leave. We are inside a hotel. Pray for us,” wrote Moraes in an Instagram post.
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Journalist Arthur Quezada quoted Moraes as saying: “The situation is one of despair. I ask you to disclose this video so that it reaches the government.
“Borders are closed, banks, there is no fuel, there will be a shortage of food, there is no money. We are gathered waiting for a plan to leave Ukraine.”