Newmarket head lad speaks of his anguish following Russian invasion of Ukraine

Newmarket-based Oleg Sheyhets, travelling head lad to Chris Wall, has spoken of a worrying few days with his family based just 50 miles from Ukraine's under-seige capital Kyiv.

Sheyhets, whose two brothers also work in Newmarket for Saeed bin Suroor, is one of about a dozen Ukrainian stable staff based in the town and has spent a frantic few days keeping in contact with his parents ever since Russia launched its invasion on Thursday.

He said: "I ring Mum and Dad two or three times a day and the first couple of days they were really scared as they didn't know what was going to happen as Putin expected to take the country in one day. Now they are more positive as Ukrainians are standing their ground."

Sheyhets added: "Our location is about 50 miles from Kyiv, halfway between the capital and the city of Poltava in the east, and they can hear the shelling from where they are. They've had Russian tanks enter the village but only passing through.

"We had quite a few family in Kyiv but they've all left since it started getting bombed and they're all now staying with Mum and Dad looking for shelter."

Oleg Sheyhets leads in The Tin Man and Tom Queally after the Diamond Jubilee StakesCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Sheyhets is worried his father may have to fight but is sure he will be ready if the time comes. He said: "My dad is 58 so is not allowed to leave the country as all men between 16-60 have to stay and fight, although he hasn't been called up yet. Dad and Mum were due to come over here in a couple of weeks on a visit visa but that won't be happening now."

The 38-year-old, who has worked in racing yards in Britain for almost 20 years, added: "I came to the UK almost exactly 20 years ago and started out with Paul Cole. Me and a girl named Svetlana, who now works for William Haggas, came over and then I helped my brother Uri get a job in Newmarket.

"I ended up getting a job with James Fanshawe where I spent 14 years, during which time I looked after top sprinter Deacon Blues and later his half-brother The Tin Man. I then had a spell at Manton with Martyn Meade but came back and worked for Charlie Appleby for a year before moving here two years ago."

Sheyhets added: "My dad has a lot of family back in Russia and years ago we used to visit them and they used to come and see us, but they don't come anymore. It all stopped when Putin started putting out propaganda about Ukrainians saying they are Nazis and they'd get killed if they went there.

"Most Ukranians, including myself, speak Russian but it doesn't mean we want to be part of the Soviet Union. People were hoping war wasn't going to happen but everyone knew Putin would come. He was always coming ever since 2014, ever since the Soviet Union fell and we became independent.

"Every president we had until 2014 was pro-Russian but when we had the revolution and kicked him out we wanted to become more European, which Putin doesn't like. I don't think he'll stop."

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