A child from Mariupol handed a letter addressed to Boris Johnson through FC Shakhtar

Added at:
Source: FC Shakhtar

Illia Kostushevych addressed the Prime Minister of Great Britain through FC Shakhtar

On May 26, a Come On, Let’s Play! training session of the Shakhtar Social Foundation was attended by the club’s CEO Sergei Palkin and the Director of Football Darijo Srna in Kyiv. They talked with displaced children and their parents, and also received an unusual request from a 6-year-old Illia Kostushevych from Mariupol. The matter is that the boy's parents were killed as a result of the Russian troops’ rocket attacks on the city, with the street and the area where they resided being fully destroyed. Volunteers saved the child from the blockade, and now the family of Maria and Volodymyr Bespalyi from Slovyansk have been taking care of Illia.

Not so long ago, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote an open letter addressed to Ukrainian children. And then Illia decided to send a reply to the head of the British government.

Below is the text of Illia Kostushevych's letter:

“Dear Boris Johnson!

I want the war to end more quickly, so that people don’t die anymore. I want to play football in my hometown of Mariupol. I would like all the children in the world to experience no war. Please say hello to all the kids in Britain for me, thank you for helping us. We will win! I have a cat named Frosya. I am sending you the flag of Ukraine that I drew. Hugging you tightly.

Illia, 6 years old"

Illia Kostushevych asked the executives of FC Shakhtar, in particular Darijo Srna, to hand this letter over to the British Prime Minister.

Darijo Srna, FC Shakhtar Director of Football:
“I will find a way to deliver Illia's letter. A child who has gone through so many things cannot be denied a request. And I will complete this mission. The family that have adopted the boy who lost his parents are great fellows. They practically gave the child a new life. I want to say a huge thank you to them for this! Today I’ve experienced the emotions that cannot be expressed in words. I want to say that we will stand by this family and be helping them, helping everyone who needs it. These days, it should be like this – everyone should support each other. May God give us all the strength to endure this, win and return to our normal living.”

Sergei Palkin, FC Shakhtar CEO:
“Unfortunately, there will be a lot of such stories during the war. Therefore, FC Shakhtar intends to provide support to families that adopt the kids who have lost their family members. Maria and Volodymyr are the people with really big hearts. They took on a great responsibility – both moral and financial. We will be helping such families as long as there is a need for it. Today we take care of two families. I wish there were as few such situations as possible, but they do exist, which means we will help.”

Maria and Volodymyr Bespalyi, adoptive parents of Illia:
“We have long planned to adopt a child. And when we learned the story of Illia, we decided to take him into our family. He has a medical condition that has caused two families to refuse adoption, but that hasn't deterred us. Shakhtar contacted us independently and offered to help us, for which we are so much grateful to the club. Illia loves football very much, he communicates well with the kids here, and he’s looking forward to training. By the way, Illia himself says that when he grows up, he will go to rebuild Mariupol.”

Tags: Shakhtar

Sport News RSS - Sport News - Terrikon

03 April

16:41
Andriy Lunin Sidelined With Foot Injury Ahead of Key Matches
02:50
Reims Overcome Cannes to Set Up David vs Goliath French Cup Final Against PSG
02:38
Stuttgart Overcome RB Leipzig to Set Up Fairytale DFB-Pokal Final Against Arminia
02:26
Milan and Inter Share Spoils in Coppa Italia Semifinal First Leg
02:08
El Clásico Final Set for Copa del Rey as Barcelona Eliminate Atlético
00:51
Manchester City Overcomes Leicester
00:34
Liverpool Edge Everton in Merseyside Derby to Maintain Title Charge

02 April

09:42
Spanish Cup Final to Feature El Clásico or Madrid Derby
00:50
PSG Complete Stunning Comeback to Reach Coupe de France Final
00:41
Arminia Bielefeld Stun Bayer Leverkusen to Reach Historic DFB-Pokal Final
00:25
Nottingham Forest Halt Manchester United's Unbeaten Run in Premier League
00:21
Arsenal Cruise Past Fulham as Saka Marks Return With Goal

01 April

23:45
Haaland Ruled Out for Seven Weeks With Leg Injury
15:55
Brazilian Champions Botafogo Sign Prolific Uruguayan Striker Gonzalo Mastriani
13:55
Ancelotti's Real Madrid Future in Doubt as Son Plans Departure
13:10
Arsenal Emerge as Frontrunners in Viktor Gyökeres Sweepstakes
11:20
Corinthians Extend Unbeaten Run to 11 Matches — Club's Best Streak in 8 Years
00:11
Lazio Let Slip Victory Against Torino in Serie A Clash

31 March

23:19
Manchester City Provide Haaland Injury Update After Bournemouth Scare
21:12
Reports: AC Milan to Part Ways with Sérgio Conceição at End of Season
20:51
Neuer Back in Training but Still Sidelined for Bayern Munich
20:33
Sacchi: Napoli Are Giving Everything to Chase Their Dream
20:10
Isco Urges Betis to Keep Antony for Another Season
16:32
Lunin Retains Starting Spot as Courtois' Return Delayed
13:57
Santos President Criticises Team After Disappointing Start to Brazilian Serie A
11:44
Novak Djokovic Falls Short in Miami Open Final Against Jakub Mensik
11:26
Official: Joël Löw Appointed as RB Leipzig Head Coach
00:23
Brazilian Clash of Champions Ends in Goalless Draw
00:10
Napoli Defeat AC Milan to Stay in Title Chase with Inter

30 March

22:17
Osasuna Halt Athletic Club's Charge Toward European Places
22:06
Inter Milan Edge Closer to Scudetto with Hard-Fought Win Over Udinese
20:44
Manchester City Overcome Bournemouth to Reach Seventh Consecutive FA Cup Semifinal
19:59
Lewandowski Runs Rampant as Barcelona Crush Girona in Catalan Derby
18:51
Moise Kean's Strike Halts Atalanta's Charge
18:16
Brazilian Serie A: Fluminense Sack Mano Menezes After Just One Game
18:03
Rashford's Brace Powers Aston Villa to FA Cup Semifinals
15:15
RB Leipzig Part Ways With Marco Rose After Disappointing Season
14:54
Bayern Munich's Hiroki Ito Suffers Recurring Metatarsal Fracture
11:38
Brazilian Drama: Internacional Keeper Subbed Off Due to Wedding Ring Injury in 1–1 Draw
09:22
Real Madrid Stage Comeback to Defeat Leganés