Ukraine add Seleznyov, Butko to Euro 2016 squad

Kiev (AFP) – Striker Yevgen Seleznyov and defender Bogdan Butko have been added to Ukraine’s provisional squad for Euro 2016, the Football Federation of Ukraine announced Wednesday.

Seleznyov, who terminated his contract with Russia’s Kuban Krasnodar earlier this month to join Shakhtar Donetsk, had been left out of an initial squad named by coach Mykhaylo Fomenko last week. 

Defender Bogdan Butko, who is on loan at Amkar Perm but expected to return soon to Shakhtar, appeared on Fomenko’s list, but had not been included on the squad published on the federation’s website. 

The exclusion of Russian-based players from the squad announced by the federation had prompted debate about whether Ukraine’s tense relations with Russia had influenced the selection. 

Ties between Moscow and Kiev are in tatters over Crimea’s annexation in March 2014 and the subsequent pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine will be competing in their second European Championship in Group C alongside Germany, Poland and Northern Ireland.

They will play friendly matches against Romania on May 29 and Albania on June 3 to prepare for the tournament.