“Impressed by the performance”: Sergiy Burnus with his partner Diana
(Picture: Handout)Ukrainians in London have been “brought together” by their national team’s surprise success in the Euro 2020 tournament, fans said on Friday.
Hundreds of supporters in the capital are scrambling to find somewhere to watch the team face England in the knockout match on Saturday.
The Ukrainian cultural centre in Holland Park will welcome up to 100 fans, while pubs in Greenwich and Tower Hill have also reserved special areas for the away supporters.
Sergiy Burnus, who runs the social club Ukrainian Events London, said: “It has really brought the community together. We weren’t ready for the victories and we were impressed by our performance.”
Mr Burnus, who is also a member of the UK Ukrainian sports supporters club, added his country’s success had been particularly special because of the political situation in Ukraine.
The country unveiled its yellow team shirt last month, showing a map including Russian-annexed Crimea and emblazoned with the slogan “Glory to Ukraine”.
The kit provoked anger in Moscow with one Russian MP calling it a “political provocation”.
Mr Burnus added: “That was ridiculous. But it was good publicity for our country and the political issues going on there.
“Will we beat England? I don’t know. It is football and anything can happen.”
