UKRAINE icon Andriy Shevchenko admitted his relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will never be the same again.
Shevchenko was among the first group of stars Abramovich signed for the Blues in 2006, three years after the Russian oligarch took over the club.
But now the AC Milan legend is entirely focused on carrying out his patriotic duties as he looks for peace and helps his compatriots flee war-torn Ukraine following Russia's unjust invasion.
Abramovich, on the other hand, has been slapped with sanctions by the UK government due to his alleged ties with controversial Russian president Vladimir Putin and is desperately trying to sell the club.
The 45-year-old former striker, who led Ukraine to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 only last summer, admits he had a "long relationship" with the departing Chelsea supremo, but suggested they will no longer be close.
Shevcnehko told the Daily Mail: "I said from the beginning, I did not believe that this could happen.
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"We had a long relationship and I don't think it will ever be the same. But I also know there are a lot of Russian people who want to stop the war."
Shevchenko is among a number of influential Ukrainians joining the war effort to defend their country.
This comes after boxing stars Oleksandr Usyk and Wladimir Klitschko bravely enlisted in the army to fight off the Russian invaders.
The former Chelsea ace understandably doesn't pay much attention to football these days but insists the West Londoners' history "cannot be cancelled".
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Shevchenko added: "The history which Chelsea built cannot be cancelled.
"The Chelsea fans will always stay behind the club because they love the club. I know it's a difficult moment.
"But I am also in a position where, with what is happening to my country, I want to appeal to everyone to play your part. Remember what is most important.
"I want only one thing: to bring the peace in my country, to stop the killing of innocent people, to stop the killing of kids. We all know war is cruel. But we cannot stand for that."
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