Ukraine footballer Oleksandr Zinchenko claims Instagram have deleted his story post saying he hopes Vladimir Putin suffers the ‘most painful suffering death’ after the Russia president launched a full-scale invasion on Ukraine.
The Manchester City defender, on his Instagram story, posted a photo of Putin with the caption: ‘I hope you die the most painful suffering death, creature.’
Yet that story post has since been taken down and Zinchenko claims that Instagram have deleted their post in seemingly a move of censorship of the Ukraine international.
The 25-year-old said on Tuesday that he ‘can’t stand back’ whilst ‘the whole civilized world is concerned about my country’ and has again taken to social media on Thursday morning.
Russia have launched all-out war on Ukraine with missiles and bombs, tanks rolling across the border from Belarus, troops parachuted down on eastern regions and explosions seen across the country after Putin personally gave the order for his forces to attack.
‘Hundreds’ of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes, Kiev said, as the fight came to them on all fronts at a moment’s notice. Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west – aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts.
It came after Putin gave an extraordinary early-morning address to the Russian nation – delivered during a UN meeting aimed at avoiding war – in which he declared a ‘special military operation’ to ‘de-militarise’ and ‘de-Nazify’ Ukraine in what amounted to a outright declaration of war.
The Russian strongman also issued a chilling warning to any country thinking of coming to Ukraine’s aid, vowing ‘consequences greater than any you have faced in history’.
Oleksandr Zinchenko says he hopes Vladimir Putin suffers the ‘most painful suffering death’ in a post that Instagram have since taken down, according to the Manchester City defender
The Ukraine international said on Tuesday that he ‘can’t stand back’ whilst ‘the whole civilized world is concerned about my country’
Putin is pictured in the early hours of Thursday morning declaring war on Ukraine, in what he termed a ‘special military operation’
Ukrainian President Zelensky has given his own address – delivered from home – in which he declared martial law and vowed to resist the Russian attack, come what may. ‘Don’t panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will defeat everyone. Because we are Ukraine,’ he said.
Underlining the gravity of the moment, Ukrainian Interior Ministry advisor Anton Herashchenko said: ‘Starting today, the world has a new geopolitical reality. Either Ukraine and the world will stop the new Hitler now, or there will be a Third World War.’
Western leaders lined up to condemn Russia’s actions in the early hours, with security councils convened the world over to mount a response. Heavy sanctions are expected to follow, along with more shipments of military equipment to Ukraine – provided they can find a route in.
Five Russian jets were reportedly shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region before Moscow boasted of taking out all anti-aircraft defences, giving them control of the skies.
The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv
A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia
An explosion lights up the night sky over Kiev in the early hours of Thursday, as Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine from north, south and east with bombs, cruise missiles and rockets raining from the skies
In an emotional message on Tuesday, Zinchenko said: ‘The whole civilized world is worried about the situation in my country.
‘I can’t stay back and strive to put my point across. In the photo – my country. The country where I was born and raised.
‘A country whose colours I defend in the international sports arena. A country that we try to glorify and develop. A country whose borders must remain inviolable. My country belongs to Ukrainians and no one will ever be able to appropriate it. We will not give up! Glory to Ukraine.’
This is not the first time Zinchenko’s life has been effected by international conflict, after moving to Russia in his youth following the outbreak of the Donbas war.
The 25-year-old defender has scored eight goals in 48 appearances for his national side
Smoke rises over Chuhuiv military airfield in eastern Ukraine after a Russian airstrike aimed at taking out the air force
Ukraine’s football league is paused for a minimum of 30 DAYS after Russia president Vladimir Putin launched full-scale invasion of Ukraine and martial law was introduced overnight
The Ukrainian Premier League has been paused for a minimum of 30 days after Russia president Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The league was meant to restart on Friday following its winter break but the league confirmed via their official website that the start has been delayed after the introduction of martial law overnight by Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
There will now be doubts whether Ukraine’s World Cup play-off match against Scotland in Glasgow will take place as planned on March 24, while the British government have already stated that St Petersburg should be removed as host of the Champions League final on May 28
Russia have launched all-out war on Ukraine with missiles and bombs, tanks rolling across the border from Belarus, troops parachuted down on eastern regions and explosions seen across the country after Putin personally gave the order for his forces to attack.
The Ukrainian Premier League has been paused for a minimum of 30 days after Russia president Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine (pic: Olympic Stadium, Kiev)
The league was meant to restart on Friday following its winter break but the league confirmed via their official website that the start has been delayed after the introduction of martial law
‘Hundreds’ of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes, Kiev said, as the fight came to them on all fronts at a moment’s notice. Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west – aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts.
It came after Vladimir Putin gave an extraordinary early-morning address to the Russian nation – delivered during a UN meeting aimed at avoiding war – in which he declared a ‘special military operation’ to ‘de-militarise’ and ‘de-Nazify’ Ukraine in what amounted to a outright declaration of war.
The Russian strongman also issued a chilling warning to any country thinking of coming to Ukraine’s aid, vowing ‘consequences greater than any you have faced in history’.
Chuhuiv military airfield in Kharkiv outskirts burns
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has imposed martial law and urged his people to stay home and not panic
The invasion marks the most concerted attempt to up-end world order since the end of the Cold War, and risks sparking the bloodies conflict in Europe since the end of the Second World War.
Western leaders lined up to condemn Russia’s actions in the early hours, with security councils convened the world over to mount a response.
Heavy sanctions are expected to follow, along with more shipments of military equipment – provided they can find a route in.