Oleg Luzhny [Football.ua] and the city of Lviv

ARSENAL double winner Oleg Luzhny says he will “stand firmly and fight” the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The cult hero at Highbury – nicknamed ‘The Horse’ – has been taking cover in his home town of Lviv in the west of the country where residents have been using makeshift air raid shelters amid the bombing.

Luzhny, who won English football’s biggest domestic prizes in 2002 with the Gunners, told Sky Sports via WhatsApp: “The situation is horrific. I want to come to coach in the UK but before anything I will stand firmly and fight for my people, for my country and for democracy.”

He added: “We all hope this will be over soon as innocent lives are being lost and families are being torn apart,” he said.

“A country being invaded and destroyed is all for what? We need to stand together as one and bring to an end this criminal warfare.”

Luzhny also briefly played for Wolves and more than 250 games for Dynamo Kviv.