Ukraine star Yaroslav Rakitskiy RIPS UP contract with Zenit St Petersburg after Russia invades his homeland
UKRAINE star Yaroslav Rakitskiy has QUIT Zenit St Petersburg after Russia invaded his homeland.
The Russian Premier League leaders agreed to terminate the 32-year-old defender's contract - days after he was dropped for slamming Russia on Instagram.
Ex-Shakhtar Donetsk star Rakitskiy asked Zenit for time off but then demanded to leave as a growing number of sporting individuals, club and governing bodies take action over Vladimir Putin's aggressions.
Zenit later confirmed his departure in a statement that made NO reference to the Ukraine conflict.
They said: "Yaroslav Rakitskiy requested an early end to his contract (three months early) and this has been agreed by the club.
"While in St Petersburg he won three league titles, the Russian Cup and two Super Cups.
"The club and our supporters wish to thank Yaroslav Rakitskiy for his time here and recognise the professionalism and passion he displayed while with us.
"We sincerely wish the best to Yaroslav, his friends and his family."
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Russian giants Zenit are backed by state-run gas company Gazprom.
And manager Sergei Semak admitted earlier this week Rakitskiy's future was in doubt.
He said: "The atmosphere not only inside the club, but in the country is such that any person is worried and takes what is happening to heart.
"Yaroslav asked for a couple of days off to resolve his personal issues.
"Each person makes his own decisions."
Rakitskiy's move to Zenit in 2019 sparked upset as old club Shakhtar are in Donbass, a Ukraine region long troubled by separatists backing Russia.
That transfer effectively ended his international career, a year after the last of his 54 caps.
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