Oleksandr Zinchenko says Ukraine's World Cup play-off semi-final against Scotland is more than a football match as the defender vowed to make his country proud.
Wednesday's game at Hampden Park in Glasgow comes against the backdrop of war, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
The fixture was originally due to take place in March but was delayed by FIFA until June to give Ukraine the chance to qualify for the Qatar finals later this year.
An emotional Zinchenko, who broke down in tears at a media conference on Tuesday as he outlined what the match meant to him, later told Sky Sports he and his team-mates are determined to lift the spirits of a beleaguered nation.
Asked whether this is more about sending a message, he said: "Yes, 100 per cent. That's for sure. Everyone is in the same situation and everyone is going to give everything.
"My mission is to try to help Ukraine as much as I can, to make Ukrainian people proud and that our nation is living with freedom and that we will never give up.
We need to focus on our game, we need to try and give some good emotions to the Ukrainian people so that's what we're going to try to do."
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