West Ham and Ukraine star Yarmolenko is granted compassionate leave

Ukraine captain Andriy Yarmolenko has been granted compassionate leave by West Ham to come to terms with the Russian invasion of his homeland, with members of his family among millions caught up in the crisis.

The war in Ukraine has left Yarmolenko, 32, in a bad place, according to his manager, David Moyes, who accepted his player's request for time away from football and said he hopes his family stay safe.

The forward, who has worn the armband for his country and won 106 caps in total, will miss West Ham's Premier League game against Wolves this weekend.

It remains to be seen when he will return to training at their Rush Green base, although Moyes only described the time off as a 'few days' on Friday.

West Ham have also asked Yarmolenko how they can help him and his family as the war unfolds in Ukraine.

'I spoke with him yesterday (Thursday) at training and he was upset as you can imagine and rightly so,' Moyes said. 'We just hope that everything goes well and all his family members and close family keep safe.

'He is not in a really good position at the moment, I have to say. We have given him a few days off. It is very difficult.

'The club have asked me to ask him if there is anything we can do for him and if we can, we will certainly help him.

'He has asked me if he can have a few days off and I have granted him that. It is a really difficult time for him and his family and we respect that.' 

Yarmolenko moved to London after signing for West Ham in a £17.5million move from Borussia Dortmund in 2018.

Like other Ukrainian footballers, Yarmolenko has spoken out on social media.

'I call on every Ukrainian to unite, to show his loyalty to the country, to support our army,' he wrote on Instagram.

'Our strength is freedom,