Ilya Zabarnyi, the 23-year-old Ukrainian defender who joined Paris Saint-Germain this summer from Bournemouth, had already spoken out against Russia as the conflict with his country continues. This time, he shared a video of President Volodymyr Zelensky showing the damage caused by recent bombings. The player added, “Russia is a terrorist state.”
“Russia is a terrorist state”: Footballer Illia Zabarnyi denounces the horror after another bombing in Ukraine”
It’s a powerful message, and not illogical given that Zabarnyi is witnessing terrible attacks against his country. We won’t delve into a political debate, but it’s understandable that the defender felt the need to speak out. It’s a difficult situation to endure. There’s also talk of potential tension at PSG with Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov (26). Perhaps Safonov won’t appreciate this latest message from his teammate, even though he hasn’t publicly commented on the conflict.
