ILLIA Zabarnyi described as a “giant step” his move to the Premier League, but admitted leaving war-torn Ukraine is “the hardest decision I have ever had to make”.

Highly-rated Zabarnyi completed his switch from Dynamo Kyiv to Cherries on deadline day, signing for a reported £24million.

Despite being just 20 years old, the centre-back had already established himself as a regular starter for both his club and country, earning 24 senior Ukraine caps.

But he has now decided to leave his hometown, to play outside of Ukraine for the first time, linking up with Cherries.

Taking to Instagram, Zabarnyi wrote: “It is with a heavy heart that I leave my club and my country behind, it’s the hardest decision I have ever had to make.

“Ukraine is suffering and remains every minute in my thoughts and my heart. May peace prevail as soon as possible!

“For me playing in the Premier League is a giant step in my life, a great opportunity, after wearing Dynamo’s shirt from my youth right through to the first team.”

It is almost a full year since Russia launched an invasion into Ukraine.

Asked what it has been like living and playing football in the country since, Zabarnyi told afcbTV: “Now we have a war in Ukraine. This is so hard for all Ukrainian people, for football players, for all.

“I’m Ukrainian and for me it’s important I am here, that people who look at me know I’m Ukrainian.

“They need to think about the war in Ukraine, because it’s so very hard.

“I leave a bad situation in Kyiv. Kyiv is maybe one the safer places in Ukraine, but if you know (places like) Kherson, a lot of cities, it’s attacks every day. It is so bad. They killed people, children, women.

“It’s so bad. The whole world needs to know this.”

Asked how difficult it was to leave his family behind and make the move to England, Zabarnyi added: “It’s hard for me, but I need this.

“I need this because I wanted more people to know about Ukraine.”