"I'll tell it like it is": Former Russian National Team captain speaks against war

 They say courage is not to act without fear, but to act when confronted with fear. For former Russia National Team captain Igor Denisov, said fear is very much real, but so has been his courage. The former Zenit St. Petersburg and Dynamo Moscow spoke against Russia's attack on Ukraine, despite knowing the destiny of those who do it.

In an interview with German newspaper Bild, Denisov pointed out: "I don't know, maybe I'll be imprisoned or killed for saying those words, but I'll tell it like it is.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which started in late February 2022, has so far claimed the lives of over 14,000 people according to the UN. For Denisov, it remains as shocking as it did on that day: "My perception of everything has changed drastically. I have not slept. I probably slept three hours for four days. I was just shocked", pointed out the former Russia captain. "Nobody can explain it to me. Maybe because I'm not well read, maybe because I'm not well versed in history, but I'm against it".

It's not the first time that Denisov has desired to express his feelings on the war. He reportedly recorded a video putting out his thoughts on what was happening, but was convinced by friends that he should not do it, as those who oppose the war are often incarcerated and can face legal charges after the approval of a law that prohibits the "discrediting" of the armed forces. However, for Denisov, the right path is clear: "I don't like it when people die. I can no longer remain silent about this".

Igor Denisov played as a midfielder in the Russian league between 2002 and 2019, wearing the shirts of four different clubs. He was also an international for Russia between 2008 and 2016, earning 54 first team caps and becoming captain of the team in 2012. With the Russian national team, he played in major tournaments like Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup.

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