Since the full-scale invasion of the Russian army into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, life in the country has changed dramatically. This applies to professional football players as well.

"We did not stop working; we even increased the number of our events," — Roman Morozov, FIFPro manager for work with members of the All-Ukrainian Association of Professional Football Players and football structures of the AAFP, told.

The full-scale invasion began just a few days after the annual training camp of the association for players without contracts who are free agents.

One of the first initiatives of the AAFP was to help evacuate players and their families from conflict zones into safer regions of Ukraine, as well as provide support to foreign players wishing to leave the country. In total, the organization helped nearly 250 Ukrainian and foreign footballers. The association did this in close cooperation with other FIFPro member associations.

"We also began working with the All-Ukrainian Sports Union and actively provided humanitarian aid to professional athletes, military personnel, and internally displaced citizens. Aid included personal hygiene items, medical supplies, over-the-counter medications, child care products, and food," — Roman Morozov noted.

The AAFP also provided legal assistance to players from clubs that withdrew from competitions and advised Ukrainian players, especially minors, who were outside the country at the start of the war, on issues such as club search or adaptation to a new reality.

"Our largest task in the first weeks was supporting the female footballers of FC 'Mariupol'. We provided all players and their families with housing, humanitarian aid, and food, — Roman Morozov said. "We maintain constant contact with Mariupol's footballers and help them with their project. They opened a small workshop for producing semi-finished products at home. In free time between training sessions, the players themselves make blini, cutlets, and other popular Ukrainian dishes. Part of the profit goes to the club, while the rest is used to support people who have suffered from the war."

The football career of many players has been seriously affected. Many lost their jobs because more than 20 out of 72 professional teams disappeared from Ukraine's football map. We hope that some of these clubs will be able to participate in next season's competitions.

Players were not only deprived of funding but also lacked the opportunity for full training. For a professional athlete, this is a real catastrophe and a threat to their future career. That is why it was so important for us during this difficult period to fully organize a large-scale training camp together with FIFPro.

In the special training camp for free agents, 32 players participated, which is the highest record in the history of association training sessions. We managed to implement everything planned despite numerous inconveniences and obstacles caused by the war: constant air raids, when players had to listen to lectures from invited guests while hiding in bomb shelters, communication and water supply disruptions, difficulties with hot meals due to power outages...

However, we managed to organize everything at the highest level: modern training facilities, qualified and experienced coaching staff, quality food and accommodation for footballers.

Players appreciated the help of our association and FIFPro. They regained faith in themselves and their abilities. Most importantly, many received invitations from professional clubs to try out. We achieved the main goal of the project and are proud of it.

In November, AAFP also managed to organize its general assembly, which was held online at the recommendation of government authorities. Representatives of players from each club were present at the assembly. Within the preparation for the congress, representatives of the union visited footballers in PFL and UPL clubs.

Despite difficult conditions, despite sirens, power outages, changes to training schedules, forced rescheduling of matches, and other inconveniences, we managed to visit 43 professional football teams — men's and women's; meet with players and provide them with current legal consultations or information about projects such as education and player development."

Despite the difficult situation in Ukraine, AAFP President Igor Gatullin visited various FIFPro events, including the general assembly of the 'Europe' division in Montenegro and the Congress FIFPro in Uruguay.

In Montenegro, he addressed everyone with a speech clearly explaining the difficult situation of his country and its people, as well as the status of players and professional football.

Together with FIFPro, Gatullin organized special financial support for the families of four players who died during the invasion, as well as 37 female players who found themselves in extremely difficult circumstances due to extensive damage to their homes.

Igor Gatullin noted in his speech: "On behalf of AAFP, I would like to express sincere gratitude to the entire FIFPro family and all FIFPro staff for comprehensive support that motivates and inspires us during these difficult times. You, the international community, are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us, and this is exactly what will help us, the Ukrainian people, in our desperate and brutal fight against the aggressor."

Based on materials from fifpro.org.