Russian fans of Millwall FC have called on both Ukraine and Russia to end the fighting that broke out last week.
“I absolutely do not want to get into the politics, all sides in this conflict have a lot to say to each other, but the main thing is that we must talk, not shoot,” said Maxim Prokhorenko, head of the Millwall Supporters Club Russia. “I wish this madness ends as soon as possible.”
“All common people I know in Russia, England and Ukraine … are against the war,” he added.
Prokhorenko – who is half Ukrainian and has a father living in Ukraine – complained that the current UK sanctions on Russia, particularly the travel bans, will prevent him and his compatriots from attending Millwall games.
“I wanted to come to England with my daughter this April to visit three games, my friends from London wanted to come to see Russia this year, but the politicians decided a different way,” he said.
Prokhorenko’s last trip to see Millwall was cancelled due to Covid. He lost money on hotel bookings, visas and flights, which could not be refunded.
Still, Prokhorenko was optimistic that things would improve and he could reunite with the Lions once more.
“I want to say, keep the faith, my friends, we will take over these hard days and finally meet at the Den and have a few happy pints in Whelans and Old King’s Head.”
The 43-year-old from Moscow was first introduced to the Bermondsey-based club by British builders who were constructing a “big factory for Heinz” in Russia during the ‘90s.
“I was against posh clubs and glory hunting so all these premiership clubs were not my story,” he continued.
Prokhorenko has since gone on to head the Millwall Supporters Club Russia, which meets in Moscow’s Churchill Pub to drink “a pint or two” and watch Millwall play together.
“Millwall is the only club mostly famous for its supporters, most of the people thought that it’s because of hooligans – but the reality is that Millwall is a big and strong family who can defend themselves and are proud to stand for the club and its colours,” said Prokhorenko.
“Many people don’t understand it, but the real Millwall fans do.”
Another Russian Millwall supporter, Maxim Yepanchin, also wanted to see more peaceful times.
“I hope that the conflict in Ukraine will end soon and life will return to normal,” says Yepanchin. “I believe that it is beneficial to everyone.”
Yepanchin, who described the Lions as “the only football club of its kind in the world,” said he had not been to The Den yet, but hoped to visit London “one day soon”.
He said: “The love for Millwall is united and will always help us to get out of any situations and temporary complications in relations between our countries with honour.
“I am sure that the English guys will welcome us as cordially on English soil as we did them in Moscow,” he added.
Yepanchin said he had never any problems with football supporters from any country, least of all England.
“During the World Cup in Russia in 2022, I talked a lot with fans from different countries, and neither I nor my friends had any problems with anyone,” he said.
“We drink Carling… discuss what is happening on the football field and exchange other news. In general, we do everything that Millwall fans do in London pubs.”
Dmitry Kokorin, a 47-year-old Muscovite and IT programmer, said he was similarly saddened by the conflict in Ukraine.
“Unfortunately it’s impossible for us to go to Great Britain again. I feel sorry about the war campaign,” he said. “I am sure [there] should be [a] political way to solve the problems between our Governments.
“But our country chooses to fight.”
Once the current geopolitical tensions were over Kokorin hoped to welcome English Millwall fans to the Churchill Pub in Moscow. Here he hoped they could “meet” and “watch football together”.
“[I am] happy to be part of the family,” he added.