How radically everything can change can sometimes be seen from a simple sequence of numbers. In the case of Ivan Nagaev, this is 00380. Just a few weeks ago, the sight of this combination on the phone display caused him to look forward to cheerful conversations with loved ones from home.
00380 is the country code of Ukraine, Nagaev lived in Odessa until he was 15 years old. It was a carefree childhood in the Black Sea port city known for its beaches and picturesque buildings.
worry, anger and sadness
Almost nothing good has come from home for a few weeks now. This has been the case even more since February 24 – the day on which, at the behest of Russian despot Vladimir Putin, the large, well-armed neighbor and his troops invaded the sovereign state of Ukraine. Since then, 00380 has been associated with boundless worry, great anger and infinite sadness.
“Now the whole world is different.”
— Ivan Nagaev
With Nagaev there is also an inner conflict. The 28-year-old was born in Russia and has previously played in the country’s national team. However, he grew up in Ukraine.
“I have family in Ukraine, but also in Russia”
“It’s a difficult situation for me, it’s not all easy,” said the Waspo attacker in the NDR sports club. “I have family in Ukraine, but also in Russia. Like me, it’s the same for many people there, because it used to be a country.”