"I'm my own judge": the world champion quits the Ukrainian national team with words about "war and recycling"

Artur Bilan, a member of the Ukrainian national professional fishing team, quit the team after the World Cup in Italy and refused to return to his home country. In a letter to his now ex-partner Danylo Lyasov of the Blue and Yellows, the 34-year-old explained his action by saying that he did not want to "get caught up in war or recycling."

Lyasov himself wrote about this on his Facebook page, later deleting a screenshot of his correspondence with Bilan. Artur called the decision to flee Ukraine a "family decision" because his wife is under constant stress, and he has already received two calls for service.

"We have a small child who needs to go to school and not hear explosions. And, of course, my wife doesn't want me to go to war or be recycled. But it is true - I have already received two calls and we have no opportunity to resolve the issue. And we want to live! Of course, I understand that my career in Ukraine is over, but this is my life and I have to live it and I am my own judge. This decision was difficult for me," said Bilan, who won the 2021 World Spinning Fishing Championships from the shore.

"Artur Bilan made 'such a difficult decision' after his unsuccessful performance at the World Cup as a member of the Ukrainian national team. While everyone was sleeping and resting before going home. Please spread the word," Lyasov reacted to his partner's escape.

Earlier in Russia, football player Oleksandr Ocheretko escaped from the Donetsk Shakhtar team. The media found out that the athlete had applied for political asylum in the aggressor country.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the legendary Russian national team and CSKA Moscow player Vasily Berezutsky fled Russia for Spain.

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