Ihor Shopin, head of the Luhansk Oblast Football Association, spoke about the situation in the region amid Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, which has been ongoing for 49 days, and highlighted cooperation with the UAF Coordination Center regarding humanitarian aid to residents of the oblast and evacuation of young players to football bases in Ukraine and European partners of the national association.

"Most of our region is occupied. To put it simply, this is the hottest territory where active combat operations are taking place and settlements are being destroyed. And so far, the situation has not improved. People are leaving westward, while those who have not yet abandoned their homes are essentially living in basements and bomb shelters.

Photo by the UAF press service

All employees of the Luhansk Oblast Football Association have been evacuated to safe areas, and we are actively engaged in volunteer work together with several members of the executive committee.

We regularly deliver humanitarian cargo to four cities under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (ZSU), for which I would like to thank the Ukrainian Football Association and the head of the UAF Coordination Center, Andriy Pavelyk. This mainly includes medicines and medical supplies that are critically needed by the civilian population remaining in the oblast.

Photo by the UAF press service

Thanks to the support of the UAF, we managed to evacuate students from the Luhansk Higher College of Physical Culture and Sports from the zone of active combat operations. Some children were taken in by football schools in Odessa and Poltava, while others were placed in football academies in Poland and Croatia.

Unfortunately, there are casualties among representatives of the local football community in the region.

I believe that our army will be able to defend the lands and settlements of Luhansk, and we will do everything within our power to help them. Glory to Ukraine!" — noted the head of the Luhansk Oblast Football Association.

Photo by the UAF press service

We remind you that regional coordination headquarters operate on the basis of oblast football associations, and their leaders coordinate their actions with the UAF Coordination Headquarters.

Within the coordination headquarters, a call center operates which receives calls from representatives of Ukraine's football community and processes requests for necessary assistance and support.

Contact number: 0 800 331 016.