Ukrainian fans watching their team’s soccer match against England at Wembley today let dozens of blue and yellow kites explode and sing songs mocking Vladimir Putin as they called for F-16s to help Ukrainian forces in the war against Russia.
In the 24th minute of play, kites were thrown into the air, against a backdrop of hundreds of Ukrainian flags, reportedly by home fans in a show of solidarity with their rivals.
Before the match, England players joined forces with Ukraine players to stand behind the war-torn country’s national flag and send a message of peace.
England’s Euro 2024 qualifier meeting with Ukraine on Sunday comes as their opponents face an ongoing war with Russia at home.
Supporters in the stands carried messages appealing to F-16 fighter jets as they protested Putin’s illegal invasion.
Fans tossed kites in the 24th minute of play, letting them fall to the ground as part of their plea for more help from the West.
The English and Ukrainian players gathered together in solidarity behind a flag with “Peace” written on it.
The planes have previously been delivered as lyrics to a song mocking President Putin and his forces
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s players were all draped in their national flag as the team stood to the national anthems just before 5pm in northwest London.
About 23 minutes into the game, fans launched dozens of kites.
Ukrainian fans sang songs mocking Putin and his invasion in Ukrainian, while distributed lyrics encouraged fans to sing a customized version of England’s anthem “Ten German Bombers”.
Lyric sheets were handed out at the stadium encouraging fans from all sides to join in, with “German Bombers” rebranded as “Russian Bombers”.
It was these boards that fans in the stadium used as kites.
The end of the song went: “There were no Russian bombers, no Russian bombers, there were no Russian bombers in the air (…) because the Air Force from Ukraine, Air Force from Ukraine, Air Force from Ukraine needed F-16s to shoot them down.”
The lyrics were referring to Ukrainian President Zelensky’s pleas to the West for fighter jets such as the F-16 to help in their efforts against Russia.
Fans in the crowd echoed the call, with one of the children holding a sign that read: “Rishi, we need F-16 fighters.”
Another fan was photographed holding a large Ukrainian flag with the message: No time to wait. We need the F-16(s).
About 23 minutes into the match, English fans watched as dozens of kites were launched by their counterparts
Hundreds of Ukrainian flags were seen around the stadium, both inside and outside the stadium
Kites were lying around the edge of the field as the game continued between the two teams
Ukraine’s players stood in front of their anthem draped in the blue and yellow national flag on Sunday
Ukraine is currently in the midst of an ongoing war with neighboring Russia
Andriy Shevchenko declared that England’s qualifying match with Ukraine is bigger than football
The ongoing invasion of Ukraine took its toll on the country, with air travel banned. As previously reported by Sportsmail, the Ukraine outfitters and some other staff had to start their journey eight days before the game on Sunday, heading into Poland on their way to England.
Speaking to Channel 4 before kick-off, former Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko said Sunday’s game was “more than just football”.
Shevchenko also paid tribute to the soldiers who were on the front line against Russia. The 46-year-old said: “We are very lucky for their sacrifices and the team today is very lucky that they are staying strong to preserve freedom for the Ukrainians.
“I think we are very strong mentally and we are really united together.”
Former England lioness Jill Scott has spoken of the country continuing to play football despite the current situation at home. ‘It shows the power of football – how they play week in week,’ said Scott. Putting smiles on faces.
England captain Harry Kane echoed the sentiment and said the match was a truly “special” occasion.
He said: It will be a special night. I’m going to have my wife and kids come out with me to take a picture. We have an important game so I try not to think about it too much.
Gareth Southgate added: “Obviously we deeply respect everything that happens (in Ukraine).”
“There is a lot of praise, sympathy and support for Ukraine.”
This is Ukraine’s first match in the qualifying stage for Euro 2024 in Germany next summer.
England kicked off their campaign with a win in Naples on Thursday night, with Harry Kane’s opener against Italy crowning them the country’s all-time leading goalscorer.
England finished the match winning 2–0, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scoring for the home side in the first half.
After the match, Saka tweeted: “Thank you Wembley!”
England teammate Jack Grealish is pictured after sharing the match cuddling with Ukraine’s Oleksandr Zinchenko.
He wrote: “I’m taking the class back to Wembley today, always love playing there. Perfect week with the boys.”
