Kobus Olivier, a self-proclaimed “cricket nomad”, fell in love with Ukraine and made Kyiv his new home four years ago. But Olivier, originally from South Africa, is currently “terrified” with the situation in the East European country, who are facing an invasion from neighbouring Russia.

Olivier, who is the chief executive of the Ukraine Cricket Federation (UCF), a body yet to be recognised by the ICC, has locked himself in his seventh-floor apartment in the capital and has stocked up on a month's supply of food, despite having lost his appetite.

“I’m coping the best (I can) under the circumstances,” Olivier, who arrived in Ukraine following stints in South Africa, Kenya, the Netherlands and Dubai, was quoted as saying by Reuters. “I’m not being brave, I’m absolutely terrified, but there’s nothing you can do. It is what it is.”

Olivier was walking his four dogs, Tickey, Ollie, Kaya and Jessie, early on Thursday when he counted 19 explosions and immediately returned to his flat. He has since stacked mattresses against the windows to stop shattered glass from flying through the room in case of an explosion.

“I’ve been to 38 countries, but Kyiv for me is a unique experience — the culture, the history, the food.

“My dad passed away here, so it gives me a stronger bond with Kyiv. Whatever happens today or tomorrow, I’d not change anything.”

The UCF has been organising cricket for the last two decades and has a pool of 15,000 students, most of them Indians, at the senior level.

“At the moment, nobody knows what’s going to happen. Our next tournament is in June, and I’m pretty optimistic things will be back on track by then.”

Written with inputs from Reuters