A Ukrainian footballer playing in Spain has revealed he wants to go to war and is willing to put his career on hold to do so. 

The defender, Vasyl Kravets has been excused from training with his teammates at second-division side Sporting Gijon following Russia’s invasion of his country on Thursday February 24.

The fight continued into Friday with Ukrainian forces taking to the streets of Kyiv before the sounds of gunfire and explosions rang out as they battled Russian forces for control of the capital.  

Left-back Kravets revealed in a heartfelt interview that he is willing to go to war even though he does not know how to reload a gun, before blaming Russia’s president for the unrest in Ukraine. 

‘They are killing people, civilians, in hospitals… it’s all Putin’s fault, I don’t want to say it’s Russia’s fault, but Putin’s,’ Kravets told Spanish outlet Radio Marca.

‘We are a country that wants to live in peace. We don’t want to attack anyone, we want to live well and calm. I tell the truth: I want to go to war and help my people. 

‘But I can’t help because I don’t know how to shoot, how to move, how to reload a gun…but the truth is that I want to help.

‘If I could go, I would – to defend my country. It is obligatory for the heart of Ukrainians.’

The 24-year-old defender: ‘Almost all our airports are blocked. If my country needs everyone to defend our country, I’m leaving. I’ll talk to Sporting and I’ll leave.’

Kravets went on to explain the horrific issues his family who are in Ukraine face, admitting his concern for his loved ones is keeping him awake at night.

‘I call and say: ‘cheer up’ and they say ‘thank you’ but I can’t do anything else. And after 30 minutes… I call again,’ Kravets added.

‘I don’t sleep at all. My mother calls me, she hears gunshots… I’m training but I only think about my country, my family…

‘My wife cries 8 or 10 times a day, it’s incredible, they are scared to death.’ 

Kravets continued: ‘It’s Putin’s fault, only Putin’s’

‘Some country has to enter Ukraine with its weapons. We are strong but we need help. We don’t want to die, and we don’t want to kill.’

Kravets has been capped by his country at every level up to Ukraine’s U21s and is currently on loan at Sporting Gijon.