Ukrainian man seen in Aberdeen jacket during recapture of Kherson sparks search for answers

By Denny Andonova

November 13 2022, 4:44 pm

The sight of the man wearing the Aberdeen FC jacket in Kherson surprised many viewers. Image: BBC News

A kind donation of clothes from Aberdeen FC to Ukraine sparked a search for information after a man was spotted wearing a Dons jacket in Kherson.

Club chairman Dave Cormack was first taken by surprise when BBC News showed video footage of a man donning the Aberdeen coat as he embraces a Ukrainian soldier.

He was one of hundreds who took to the streets to celebrate the recapturing of the city, with cheering crowds welcoming Ukrainian troops for the first time in eight months.

More than 30,000 Russian troops pulled out of Kherson, the only regional capital taken by Moscow since February, on Friday.

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, hailed the recapture of Kherson a “historic day” in the conflict, but military leaders also called for caution as “the war is not over”.

And among the civilians seen dancing and singing to mark the occasion was one man who made a particular impression to residents in Aberdeen.

Having welcomed a few hundred Ukrainian & other refugee families to Pittodrie & @AberdeenFC this season is anyone else curious to find out the background to this gentleman’s Dons connection, taken celebrating the recapture of Kherson. Let’s see what Twitter @elonmusk can do here. pic.twitter.com/ajfPI9rwk3

— Dave Cormack (@CormackDavie) November 13, 2022

The man was seen donning an Aberdeen jacket – more than 2,300 miles away from Pittodrie – as he hugged one of the returning soldiers.

Mr Cormack then took to Twitter for answers to find out more about the man in question and establish his connection to the Aberdeen club.

Some shared their shock and confusion to the “bizarre” sighting of the jacket, while other speculated the man had maybe lived in Aberdeen before moving back to Kherson.

This is a Ukrainian man in Kherson wearing an Aberdeen jacket while celebrating the withdrawal of the Russian troops. Bizarre!@AberdeenFC pic.twitter.com/BVtdtmCiSc

— Fitba Culture 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@fitbaculture) November 13, 2022

A few hours later, however, it emerged that the coat is likely to be from a bundle of clothes Aberdeen FC donated to the war-torn country last year.

Mr Cormack wrote on social media: “Our retail manager @DiversHill informs me that @AberdeenFC donated clothes to Ukraine last season in collaboration with @dundeeunitedfc and other Scottish Clubs.

“We also gave kit to a local fireman who made regular trips to the Polish/Ukrainian border to donate clothes, etc.”