Everton severs sponsorship ties with Russian companies

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) – Everton suspended its commercial ties with Russian firms amid the Russian war on Ukraine, the English Premier League club said on Wednesday.

"The Club can confirm that it has suspended with immediate effect all commercial sponsorship arrangements with the Russian companies USM, Megafon and Yota," Everton said in a statement.

"Shocked and saddened" by the war in Ukraine, the English club said "this tragic situation must end as soon as possible, and any further loss of life must be avoided."

Everton also said the club fully supports their Ukrainian left back Vitalii Mykolenko and his family.

Mykolenko, 22, is Everton's winter signing as he left his boyhood club Dynamo Kyiv in January to play for the Toffees.

Since Russia's war on Ukraine began last week, it has been met by outrage from the international community, with the EU, UK, and US implementing a range of economic sanctions on Russia.

At least 136 civilians, including 13 children, have been killed and 400 others, including 26 children, injured in Ukraine, according to UN figures.

Around 874,000 people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, according to the latest UN Refugee Agency data.