Brentford midfielder Yehor Yarmoliuk has opened up about the personal toll of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, while expressing confidence that the west London club can achieve European qualification for the first time in its history under manager Keith Andrews.
Yarmoliuk left his family behind in Ukraine as a teenager to chase a career in English football. He grew up in Verkhnodniprovsk, a small town near Dnipro with a population of roughly 15,000, where close community ties make the devastation of the war particularly painful for those who remain.
The 22-year-old was able to return home this summer to see his family, a visit he describes as increasingly rare for many of his compatriots more than four years after the full-scale invasion began.
"We all see the news and know what is happening in Ukraine. Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kherson, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Sumy and many other cities are still being attacked and destroyed," Yarmoliuk said. "This terrible war continues to take the lives of innocent people. Today, if you have a chance to visit your hometown in Ukraine, it is already a great blessing because many people have lost that opportunity because of the war."
The United Nations verified in June that the conflict has resulted in at least 65,000 civilian casualties, a grim toll that continues to grow as Ukrainians are forced to flee their homeland. Yarmoliuk said he hopes the war will end soon, though he acknowledges its consequences will be felt for a long time.
Brentford, along with the neighbouring boroughs of Hounslow and Ealing, has become a hub of support for displaced Ukrainians under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Ealing alone hosts more than 1,400 Ukrainian arrivals, the second-largest such community in London. Yarmoliuk has worked alongside the club to assist refugees settling in the area.
"I am very grateful to the club because they do a lot to help Ukrainian people and refugees," he said. "There are also Ukrainians working at the club now after moving here because of the war."
On the pitch, Yarmoliuk has developed steadily since joining Brentford, progressing from the club's B team to becoming a regular fixture in the Premier League, with his appearance tally in the top flight approaching triple figures. He signed a new long-term contract with the club in May of last year and was a key figure last season as Brentford came close to securing European football under new head coach Keith Andrews.
Andrews, a former Republic of Ireland international, took over the senior role after serving as part of Thomas Frank's coaching staff. While his promotion raised eyebrows outside the club, Yarmoliuk said there was little surprise among the players themselves.
"His appointment was not a surprise for us," Yarmoliuk said. "He was a part of Thomas Frank's coaching staff, and we communicated a lot. He always gave me advice, explained what I could do better in different situations on the pitch, and what I needed to improve. He believed in me and supported me even when Thomas Frank was our head coach."
Yarmoliuk's early years in England were far from smooth. He arrived at 18 with his girlfriend, Val, neither speaking English nor having any support network in place. Since then, he has built both his language skills and his on-field confidence. "The intensity of the Premier League doesn't allow you to be unsure of yourself. If your opponent sees that, you can lose the ball or miss an important moment," he explained.
He also finds camaraderie with fellow Ukrainian internationals Mykhailo Mudryk and Vitalii Mykolenko, sharing experiences as both footballers and countrymen dealing with the war from afar.
Looking ahead to the new season, Yarmoliuk said Brentford's mentality remains firmly ambitious. "We always set ambitious goals for ourselves. In the Premier League, it has to be like that. We all want to qualify for European competitions, but the most important thing is to stay focused on every match and keep improving game by game. I really want to see Brentford playing in European competitions."
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.