United24 coordinator Yaroslava Gres about Andriy Shevchenko

In May 2022, the official United24 fundraising platform was launched in Ukraine. Today, it has many global projects, achievements, and, most importantly, star ambassadors. Among them: Kathryn Winnick, Mark Hamill, Michelle Azanavicius, Barbra Streisand, Imagine Dragons, and others. Among the ambassadors are also world-famous Ukrainians: Oleksandr Usyk, Elina Svitolina and Andriy Shevchenko. United24 coordinator Yaroslava Gres told an exclusive story about the latter in Zhenya Yanovych’s project 20:23.

“Shevchenko was the first ambassador of United24. He agreed right away! Literally from one message,” says Ms. Yaroslava. “There are many stories about him, because we really spend a lot of time with him. I remember once we were on a train, returning from abroad to Ukraine. Shevchenko is sitting in his compartment, and border guards enter the carriage. As usual, these men quickly open the door and say loudly: “Border Guard!” But here, having opened the door to Andriy, the officer first kept silent, and then to his colleague: “Kolya, come here!” The latter came and the two of them stood silently and watched. The third one shouts: “Why are you stuck there?” He came and stood next to me. They took autographs, of course, and went to the other cars to do passport control.”

Zhenya Yanovych’s project “20:23”

Zhenya Yanovych’s project “20:23”

But this is not the end of the story! When the control procedure was over, border guard Kolya returned to the compartment where Andriy Shevchenko was with a request.

“I remember him saying: “Andriy Mykolayovych, I’m very uncomfortable, but I sent my wife our selfie, and she said that if she didn’t have the same one, she would divorce me. Could you come out to the platform, where my wife is standing, and take a picture with her?” Of course, Andriy Shevchenko agreed. I would say that this is a man who has never, in my memory, refused anyone a photo, an autograph, a hug, a kind word. Never to anyone!” – United24 coordinator Yaroslava Gres. 

Photo: press service