AJ
Actions have consequences, as 24-year-old footballer Danylo Kolesnyk found out, after boasting about a fight with a military member and posting it to social media, the Kolos football club, which plays in the Ukrainian Premier League, were left with no alternative but to cancel the striker’s contract.
Kolesnyk posted a video of a conflict with a representative of the TCC on social media, which was widely shared by Russian Z-bloggers as yet “another attempted kidnapping of a civilian.”
Judging by the video, Kolesnyk decided to prevent the military from conducting mobilisation events, before a conflict arose with another man in the TCC.
Kolesnyk claimed that the man had a deferral from mobilisation because he was the father of three children.
Although Kolesnyk quickly deleted the video, it was too late because it had already spread online.
Kolos football club issued a statement terminating the contract with its second-team striker, 24-year-old Danylo Kolesnyk: “At the moment the football player is suspended from participating in the training process and today he will be released from the Kolos-2 team,” the statement said.
The football club also noted that they fundamentally condemn “any manifestations of violence or unlawful behaviour, regardless of who it is directed against, and especially against the Ukrainian Military.”
Kyiv Regional TCC and the SP also reacted to the fight, condemning the actions of Kolesnyk, publishing a statement that noted Kolesnyk had behaved irresponsibly and indifferently towards the serviceman who was performing his duties.
“The football player decided that since he has not yet reached draft age, he is allowed to do everything, even beat the military personnel of the TCC, who performs important tasks in recruiting troops,” the TCC statement said.
Kolesnyk was urged to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine to fight against the Russian Occupiers, with the addition that “the striker of the Kolos team is quite suitable for the airborne assault troops.”
