'They are going home' - Former Wolves man opens up on 'easy decision' to fight for his country

Oleh Luzhnyi had a brief spell at Wolves between 2003 and 2004

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers man Oleh Luzhnyi says it was an "easy decision" to return to his native Ukraine to defend his country after the invasion of Russia.

The now 53-year-old spent a season at Molineux between the years of 2003 and 2004, making just six appearances for then manager Dave Jones. He eventually retired in 2005.

Since Russia declared war on Ukraine, Luzhnyi joined Ukraine's territorial defence forces. Vladimir Putin's Russian troops are now advancing to the city of Mariupol and the former Arsenal man has no doubt he made the right decision to help out.

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His wife has stayed with him while his children are away working in London and Zurich respectively. "The situation now in Ukraine is very, very tough, because of... our Russian neighbour," he told Sky Sports. "Everyone is surprised about this situation. And the situation is very dangerous.

"The Russians have destroyed a lot of houses, business centres, roads as well. Sometimes the missiles are coming two or three times during the days, and at midnight as well. It is not a good situation, very very dangerous.

"It was an easy decision [to join the territorial defence forces] because I love this country. I want to fight with my friends to stay and fight [against] the Russian army."

Luzhnyi, who had been a manager since 2005 until 2019, including being Dynamo Kyiv's assistant manager, put his coaching career to the side. "Everyone has to fight. You have to fight for your country," he added.

"It was an easy decision. We have, in our group, of five or six people, and some policemen. And we have a special area we walk around for 12 hours, every two or three days," he explained his role.

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"It’s hard of course. It’s difficult, but I am okay. There has been a lot of damage to our country. Here in Kyiv it’s okay, not too much. But more in Kharkiv, in Mariupol, it is much harder.

"All my friends are staying to fight. No one is leaving. I don’t know when I will see my family again. When this war ends, after we win and we have a good party.

"I don’t know if we will have peace soon. The situation is not under control. Nobody knows what Putin has in his brain.

"[But] we don’t panic. We are strong inside. We have a good spirit inside. Our soldiers are fantastic. They are not scared of the Russians.

"The Russians are scared of us now. Because they are going back home now. We have good positive feelings."