Photo via BBC Sport

How Ukrainians are uniting behind Shakhtar in London

Ukrainian football fans displaced by Russia’s invasion of Donbas are finding rare moments of connection through their support for Shakhtar Donetsk, now playing Champions League home matches at Stamford Bridge. Artem Genne, a lifelong supporter who fled his hometown of Donetsk in 2014, now lives in the West Midlands and plans to attend all four of Shakhtar’s London fixtures this season, including the opener against AEK Athens.

For Genne, the club represents more than just football—it’s a symbol of home and resilience, especially as the war drags on far longer than many expected. Similarly, Dima Prasolov, who moved from Donetsk to Kyiv and now resides in Kent, has secured a four-game pass to watch Shakhtar in London, a rare opportunity after years of disrupted fandom due to conflict.

The club’s struggles extend beyond the pitch, with their under-12 team relocated to a safer part of Kyiv amid recent attacks and their women’s side facing disruptions from drone strikes nearby. Shakhtar’s CEO, Sergei Palkin, underscored the broader challenges, noting that every match carries weight beyond the game itself as the team navigates ongoing instability.

In the UK, Ukrainian fans report overwhelming support, with locals offering warmth and solidarity—from applause to high-fives—whenever they wear Shakhtar shirts in public.

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