A Ukrainian soccer player says the Russian invasion of his homeland has completely changed his perspective on life

• Everton left back Vitaliy Mykolenko says that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has changed his perspective on life.
• The Ukrainian soccer player said that the conflict has made his personal problems seem unimportant.

The Ukraine international defender Vitaliy Mykolenko says that Russia's invasion of his country has given him a new perspective on life.

Russia invaded Ukraine in late-February. Thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict and millions of people have fled the country.

"Before the war, I thought that my problems were the biggest, and now I realize they are small problems," Mykolenko, who plays for English Premier League side Everton, said at a press conference Wednesday, according to the Press Association.

"When the war started, I would only think about my country and my team and do my best."

Mykolenko moved from Ukraine's capital Kyiv to England in January, just weeks before the invasion began. The 23-year-old said he remains in regular contact with his family, who are still in Ukraine.

"My parents stay in Kyiv now, and we keep in touch with them," he said. "My friends and relatives are in different places in the country, and we try to keep in touch with them, but it is not always possible.

"But I keep in touch with all of them, and thank God they are safe now."

Ukraine's head coach Oleksandr Petrakov has previously spoken about the impact the invasion has had on the national team's players.

Speaking ahead of his side's win over Scotland earlier this month, the 64-year-old told reporters that it was difficult to keep the squad focused amid the trouble.

"It's a very difficult task to prepare your team for the game when every single player is thinking about mothers, fathers, close relatives, family back home in Ukraine," he said.