Andy Murray pledges to give ALL of his prize money in 2022 to help Ukraine

Tennis star Andy Murray has pledged to donate his prize money for the rest of 2022 to help children affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Murray, who is an ambassador for Unicef UK, is working with the charity to support children in Ukraine with medical supplies and any educational needs.

The Scot, who has four children with wife Kim Sears, wrote on Twitter: ‘Over 7.5m children are at risk with the escalating conflict in Ukraine, so I’m working with @UNICEF-uk to help provide urgent medical supplies and early childhood development kits.

‘It’s vital education continues, so UNICEF is working to enable access to learning for displaced children, as well as supporting the rehabilitation of damaged schools, together with replacement equipment and furniture.

‘I’m going to be donating my earnings from my prize money for the rest of the year, but anyone in the UK can support UNICEF’s humanitarian response by donating to our appeal – Children in Ukraine need peace – now.’

Murray’s announcement came on the same day that tennis’ governing bodies came together to announce a donation of 700,000 US dollars (approximately £530,000) to help humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and support the Ukraine Tennis Federation. 

The former World No 1 is keen to help children in Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia

A Ukrainian soldier helps to carry a child during the evacuation of Irpin, which is under heavy attack by Russian forces as trouble rumbles on 

Just two days ago, world No 2 Novak Djokovic offered retired Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky his support and financial help following Russia’s invasion.

Kyiv-born Stakhovsky, 36, lives in Hungary but has returned to Ukraine to join the army and is currently waiting for the chance to defend his country against Russian soldiers.

The ex-pro says he has spoken to several current and former tennis players about the situation and he now has the backing from Djokovic.

Along with the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation and the four grand slams- Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open – donating, the Wimbledon Foundation has pledged support to the British Red Cross and the Disaster Emergency Committee.

Russian troops continue to try and surround Kyiv ahead of what is expected to be an attack on the city, with intense fighting reported in the north west including hand-to-hand combat

Kyiv claims these are the losses that its forces have inflicted on Russia in the first 12 days of fighting. While Moscow has acknowledged casualties, none of these figures have been verified 

Tennis’ response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will also see players at Indian Wells, which starts this week, given ribbons in the blue and yellow colours of Ukraine’s national flag.   

Kyiv claimed today that 12,000 Russian troops have died fighting in Ukraine, while 300 tanks have been destroyed along with more than 1,000 armoured vehicles, 48 planes, 80 helicopters and three boats.  

Strikes on civilian areas continued overnight, with the city of Sumy – in the east – struck by bombs which the local mayor said killed 21 people including two children and left others wounded. 

Ukraine’s parliament published a photo of a bloodied infant they said was hurt in the attack.

Russia said it will again open up ‘humanitarian corridors’ today to allow civilians to flee bombarded cities – but the offer has already been dismissed by Kyiv, with President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing Moscow of ‘cynicism’, saying its troops have laid mines across the routes and blown up buses intended to be used as transports.