The legendary Brazilian football player Pele expressed his deepest condolences to Ukraine in connection with the war unleashed by Russia. “I send my solidarity to the people of Ukraine,” the 81-year-old athlete wrote on Twitter on the evening of Thursday, February 24. “I pray and ask God for peace, freedom and love to reign.”
“Years pass, but little has changed since my childhood. The tragedies that we have already experienced should have taught us how to build a more peaceful world,” said the three-time world champion, who is in the hospital.
Angelina Jolie: “I pray for people in Ukraine”
American actress Angelina Jolie supported Ukraine in her Instagram post.
“Like many of you, my prayers are for the people in Ukraine. My colleagues at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and I are focused on doing everything possible to ensure the protection and basic human rights of displaced people and refugees in the region. “We have already seen reports of casualties and people starting to leave their homes in search of safety. It is too early to tell what could happen, but the significance of this moment – for the people of Ukraine and for the international legal order – cannot be overestimated.”
NBA basketball players supported the Ukrainians
Solidarity with Ukraine was also expressed by the players of the American basketball clubs “Sacramento Kings” and “Denver Nuggets” – before the start of the game in the NBA, they held a minute of silence, clasping each other’s hands. At the same time, the inscription “No to war” was displayed on the electronic scoreboard at the stadium in Ukrainian and English.
Oleksiy Len is a Ukrainian with the Kings. Before the meeting, he, along with another Ukrainian NBA player, Svyatoslav Mikhailyuk of the Toronto Raptors, made a statement about events in his homeland. “A great tragedy has happened to our beloved homeland Ukraine. We categorically condemn the war. Ukraine is a peaceful and independent country, people who want to decide their own destiny live in it,” they wrote. “We pray for our families, friends and relatives, “For everyone who is on the territory of Ukraine. We hope for a speedy end to this terrible war. Dear fellow countrymen, hold on! Our strength is in unity! We are with you!”
The union of the players of the North American Professional Basketball League NBPA also came out in support of the Ukrainians. “At this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with all the people affected by the recent events in Ukraine – especially with our Ukrainian players Alex Len and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and their families,” the NBPA said.
New world No. 1 Medvedev hit by invasion
World tennis star Daniil Medvedev is amazed by the attack of Russian troops on Ukraine. “It was not easy waking up here in Mexico to see the news from home,” the 26-year-old Russian athlete said after winning the quarterfinals of the ATP tournament in Acapulco. “We play in so many different countries, I have been to so many different countries as a junior and as a professional . It’s hard to hear all this news.”
On the night of February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a war against Ukraine, calling it a “special military operation in the Donbass” to protect people who “have been subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.” Putin’s claims of genocide have previously been refuted by both the European Union and the United Nations. Western politicians accused the Russian president of lying.
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