MANCHESTER City player Oleksandr Zinchenko joined calls for harsher sanctions on tyrannical Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

The Ukrainian left-back looked emotional as he joined crowds in Manchester protesting over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine yesterday morning.

It comes after he blasted Russia’s delusional leader on Instagram in the days leading up to the invasion. 

He wrote: “I hope you die the most painful death, you monster."

The 25-year-old later deleted the post.

Scores of people came out for the vigil in the city’s St Peter's Square carrying Ukrainian flags and signs and placards in support of the country.

Council chiefs lit the Manchester’s Central Library in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag as darkness fell in the city centre.

The crowd sang the Ukrainian national anthem and speeches were delivered in both Ukrainian and Russian languages.

Chants against Putin rang out as passers-by joined the crowd and car horns were hooted by nearby drivers in support.

Some of the protesters wept as they raised banners and called for Putin to stop his sick invasion.

Some of the attendees were Russians, protesting over President Vladimir Putin's military assault on Ukraine urban centres and military bases.

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The vigil was organised by Ukraine-born Arthur Wellington, 29.

He told the Manchester Evening News: "I appealed for support on Facebook today and the response has been fantastic, not just from the people of Ukrainian origin, but also Mancunians.

"We want the powers in the West to grow a pair and inflict punitive sanctions," he said, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in the House of Commons the most wide ranging measures to curb the flow of Russian money through the City of London.”

Olga Rolfe, 55, has a Ukrainian father and Russian mother. She's lived in Manchester for 15 years and is the deputy manager of a nursing home in Stockport.

"I want people to know that Russian people are not like Putin, and Putin is not Russia," she said.

"No one in Russia wants war.

"The problem in Russia is that people don't know what's going on because of Putin's manipulation of the media."

Helen Kozak, 50, also has dual nationality – half Ukraine and half Russian.

"We need to encourage people in Russia to stand up against Putin and stop the bloodshed," she said.

"Many people in Russia are accessing the true story from social media while others are being brainwashed by Putin's lies.

"My sister lives in Russia and I have had to tell her what's really going on. The power of misinformation is frightening."

Meanwhile, Arthur said the vigil had drawn support from people from Kazakstan and Georgia, all against the Putin regime.

"I'm delighted with the turn out, but we have to keep this going," he said. 

"It's going to be a long struggle."

Boris Johnson yesterday imposed ten sanctions on Putin for invading Ukraine – banning Russia's main airline and dozens of oligarchs.

He confirmed more than 100 firms and oligarchs including Kirill Shamalov – Russia's youngest billionaire and ex-husband of Putin's daughter – will be barred from Britain.

Ministers will also impose a cap on the deposits Russians can hold in UK bank accounts to drive out uber-wealthy oligarchs from London.

All major Russian banks will be kneecapped with an asset freeze, including £54billion Moscow giant VTB.

And all flights from Aeroflot – Russia's flag carrier and top Man Utd sponsor – will be banned from landing on British soil.

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