Everton ends sponsorship agreements with three Russian firms following Ukraine invasion.

• Immediately, Everton has halted all commercial and sponsorship activities with USM, Megafon, and Yota.
• The Premier League club will remove all branding associated with billionaire Alisher Usmanov's USM from its facilities.
• Mykolenko, Everton's Ukrainian defender, criticized Russia's players for not speaking out against the invasion of Ukraine.

Everton have immediately suspended all commercial and sponsorship activities with Russian companies USM, Megafon, and Yota in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine.

The Premier League club will remove all signage and messaging related to billionaire Alisher Usmanov's USM around the club and training ground. Additionally, Megafon will sponsor the club's women's shirts, which will be rebranded.

The Toffees' matchday programme will be reprinted without any mention of Russian-backed sponsorship. Sky Sports News reports that the entire rebranding effort, which includes the new logo and kit, will cost the club approximately £500,000.

The appalling events in Ukraine have left everyone at Everton in shock and sadness.

The immediate cessation of this tragic situation is imperative, and it is crucial to prevent any additional loss of life.

Everyone at Everton is fully supporting Vitalii Mykolenko and his family and will continue to do so.

Everton has ended its partnership with billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who is not officially involved with the club, but his USM firm sponsored the club's training ground, while Megafon was Everton Women's main shirt sponsor.

On Monday, the European Union froze the assets of a 68-year-old individual in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In the House of Commons, Bryant stated last week that although Alisher Usmanov has been sanctioned by the EU, he has not yet been sanctioned by the UK. However, Bryant believes that Usmanov will soon be added to the UK's sanctions list, and Everton should sever ties with him immediately.

On Tuesday, Usmanov released a statement via the International Fencing Federation stating that on February 28, 2022, he became the target of restrictive measures imposed by the European Union.

I believe that the decision to impose sanctions is unjustified, and the reasons given to support it are a set of false and defamatory allegations that have harmed my reputation, honor, and business.

I will employ all legal avenues to safeguard my integrity and esteem. I hereby pause my responsibilities as the President of the International Fencing Federation promptly until justice is reinstated.

‘Everton chose not to wait’

Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol:

The owner of the companies, Alisher Usmanov, has been sanctioned by both the European Union and the United States.

According to the EU, Usmanov is a pro-Kremlin oligarch with close ties to Vladimir Putin, and he has been a long-time business partner of Farhad Moshiri, the owner of Everton Football Club.

Everton ended their sponsorship arrangement with these countries before Usmanov was sanctioned by the UK Government.

Mykolenko hits out at Russia players

Mykolenko, Everton's Ukrainian defender, criticized Russia's players for not speaking out against the invasion of Ukraine in a profanity-laden statement.

On Saturday, Everton's defender, who arrived from Dynamo Kyiv in January, greeted his international teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko before the match between Manchester City and Everton.

Mykolenko, a Cherkasy-born player, is furious that the football world has not extended support to players from the Russia team, despite widespread support for Ukraine.

The 22-year-old, in a post on Instagram, criticized Russia captain Artem Dzyuba and stated that the players would never be absolved for their actions.

While you complain and your footballers remain quiet, @artem.dzyuba, innocent civilians are being killed in Ukraine. You and your children will be trapped in your shithole for life. I am genuinely pleased that this will happen to you. You will never be forgiven.

A week before their World Cup play-off semi-final against Poland, FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia from all competitions, and Mykolenko's post appeared the following day.