‘I am scared for my family… but we will win’ – Partick Thistle cult hero on living in Ukraine during Russian invasion
A UKRAINIAN footballer who became a cult hero during his short stint in Scotland has revealed he fears for his family’s lives.
Dmytro Pronevych, 37, had a trial with Kilmarnock in 2005 before spells with Patrick Thistle and Queen of the South.
The striker, affectionately dubbed ‘Dave the Ukrainian’ by Thistle fans, was in Kyiv when war broke out last week and has now been reunited with wife Kateryna and children Luka, seven, Matvey, five and 18 month-old Liya.
Dmytro, who slept in a car park while seeking shelter, admits it’s a terrifying time for Ukrainians everywhere.
He says: “I was in Kyiv when it happened on February 24, I stayed there for two days and left with my family and went to my relatives in the West of Ukraine, 300km from Kyiv.
“My children are a little too young to understand what is happening. My oldest knew a small amount when I talked to him.
“But he was very upset the first time I spoke to him about the war.
“We understand what is happening. We are not scared for ourselves. I am scared for my family.
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“Many people in Ukraine are not afraid to die but they are thinking about their children which is why many people left Kyiv and other cities when this happened.”
Dmytro, who now plays for FC Kudrivka and coaches youngsters at FC Obolon Kyiv, adds: “I love my country and I'm sure we will win this war because Ukrainian people will fight for their native land until their last breath.
“We are peaceful people but much stronger than many think.
“Putin made a mistake when he crossed our borders. We are not afraid of anyone and not afraid of his guns.”
"Only together we can stop Putin and stop war. He is much more dangerous than any virus has ever been on our planet."
Though Dmytro is confident his country will stand up to the threats they’re facing, he knows they need help from other nations.
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He hasn't been back in Scotland since leaving and thanks people for sending he and his family so many messages of support.
But while he appreciates the kind words, he knows it's more important to receive air support and weapons so they can defend themselves.
He says: “People from Scotland have already offered me words of support and I was very humbled.
“We need support but we need not only words from world leaders, we need action.
“Russia can live with sanctions, they have enough resources. We need to close the skies and get more weapons.
“We need some help not only in a diplomatic sense, but some real help.
I love my country and I'm sure we will win this war because Ukrainian people will fight for their native land until their last breath
Dmytro Pronevych
“It’s very difficult for people here. We have courageous people and our army is very brave but we need help from the outside
“We can fight on the ground but not in the air, we need to close the skies and then we can do the rest on the ground.
“Money is only paper. We need more than paper.”
He adds: “I think this war will last for a long time. If the West will help us to close down this war we can fight Putin
“If it’s just negotiation it will not work. I’m not sure that European countries understand how dangerous he is because after Ukraine he can go further to Poland and other countries if he accumulates enough people and weapons.
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“If he wins this war, after a few years he can go to elsewhere in Europe.
“It’s for everybody now to close him down because it’s the 21st century and Ukraine is a European country and what’s happening is unbelievable.”
