Young Sierra Leonean footballer trapped in Ukraine David Kpukumu has call for help as he feels abandoned by his country amidst escalating war between Russia and Ukraine.

Kpukumu confirm on  his viral post that one of his Sierra Leonean friend died last  night as a result of the conflict.

Guys help pray for us who are in Ukraine as we are playing football there is war and one of my friend that we came from Sierra Leone is dead last night”

However, the Sierra Leone Embassy In Russia issued a press release saying  they have registered 97 Sierra Leoneans  in Ukraine. 40 of those registered are private residents while the remaining are students.

The press release stated that Ambassador Mohamed Yongawo and diplomatic staff are in regular Communication with the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Ukraine, Madam Liudmyla Rusalina

The release further revealed that In an earlier Zoom meeting held on15-02-22 they agreed contingencies in support of Sierra Leoneans in the event of the situation escalating to all out armed conflict

Madam Rusalina advised that her home will be available to host Sierra Leoneans to succor whilst waiting for evacuation. Her residence, she informed is on the outskirts of Kyiv which is safe and well-guarded with armed security. Madam Rusalina is supported by the Sierra Leone Community Organization, which she helps set up and sponsoring. And with the help of the latter, they’ve been able to register 97 Sierra Leoneans of which 40 are private.

The Embassy  assure all and sundry that at they had not received any information of harm to any of our citizens

The  release further Pointed out that the Government of president Julius Maada Bio has appealed to countries neighboring Ukraine- Moldova , Poland Hungary, Romania, Slovakia aa d Belarus through the Mission in Moscow to other temporary sanctuary if and when our Citizens Show up in their territories whilst the government considers other options including evacuation.

Meanwhile, the Sierra Moscow mission  claimed that they also held zoom meeting with Sierra Leone Community and Students in Ukraine where information was shared in regards to the ongoing conflict, risk, and safety measures to be adopted by Sierra Leoneans.

Ukraine has ordered its citizens to leave Russia because of “escalating Russian aggression” could limit consular assistance according to the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Office. Around two million Ukrainians live permanently in Russia and another one to two million more are thought to be staying there as migrant workers. Also, Russia’s embassy in Kyiv has started evacuating diplomats from Ukraine.

“Our world is facing the biggest global peace and security crisis in recent years — certainly in my tenure as secretary general,”

When troops of one country enter the territory of another country without its consent, they are not impartial peacekeepers,” he told reporters. “They are not peacekeepers at all”Mr. Guterres said. “We face a moment that I sincerely hoped would not come.”

Putin has expressed his disappointment to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at what he said were attempts by the US and the Washington-led NATO military alliance to ignore Russia’s legitimate security demands, the Interfax News Agency cites the Kremlin as saying.

The White House has announced the US plans to join the European Union and UK in sanctioning Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Speaking to reporters at the daily briefing on Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the US, “in alignment with the decision by our European allies”, will sanction Putin, Lavrov and “other members of the Russian national security team”.

But while the UK and EU sanctions on Putin and Lavrov will entail an asset freeze, not a travel ban, Ms Psaki tells reporters the US measures will involve a travel ban.