Brazilian footballers stranded in Ukraine beg government to evacuate them

Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv players appear in the video

Several Brazilian footballers stranded in Ukraine have appealed to their government for an immediate evacuation from the country, saying 'the situation is one of despair.' A video clip shared on Twitter shows players from Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv, as well as their families, gathered in a hotel in Kyiv. It comes after Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered his military forces to invade Ukraine on multiple fronts, with tanks moving across the border and 'hundreds' of Ukrainian troops reportedly dead. Journalist Arthur Quezada posted the video, with a number of Brazilian players assembled as they made an appeal to the authorities in their home country to evacuate them from Ukraine.

Shakhtar striker Junior Moraes sent a message saying: "The situation is one of despair. I ask you to disclose this video so that it reaches the [Brazilian] government.

"Borders are closed, banks [are shut], there is no fuel, there will be a shortage of food, there is no money.

"We are gathered waiting for a plan to leave Ukraine."

https://twitter.com/ArthurQuezada/status/1496777721900572675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1496777721900572675%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fsportsnews%2Farticle-10546841%2FUkraine-Brazilian-players-Shakhtar-Donetsk-Dynamo-Kyiv-ask-government-evacuation.html

Moraes also posted a message on Instagram that read: "All friends and family, the situation is serious and we are stuck in Kiev waiting for a solution to get out. We are inside a hotel. Pray for us."

The 34-year-old, who was born in Brazil but is a Ukraine international, is alongside 11 other Brazilian players from Shakhtar's squad, while Vitinho - who is present in the video - plays for Dynamo Kyiv. David Neres can also been seen in the video, having recently completed a transfer from Dutch club Ajax to Shakhtar last month. The other Brazilian players in Shakhtar's squad are Dodo, Vitao, Marlon, Ismaily and Vinicius Tobias, Maycon, Marcos Antonio, Tete, Alan Patrick, Pedrinho and Fernando. Foreigners are currently unable to exit Ukraine after commercial airlines grounded flights to and from the country. Meanwhile, escape by land proves highly dangerous considering Russia's assault on the country from the south, east and north. Related links:

• Sebastian Vettel says he won’t race in Russia after invasion of Ukraine
• Champions League final moved from Russia following Ukraine invasion
• Ukraine invasion: PM brands Putin’s attack ‘heinous and barbaric’ and ‘must end in failure’