Shakhtar Donetsk hopes to convey a message of hope with its “miracle” season as the conflict in Ukraine rages on.

Soccer team Shakhtar Donetsk, which was uprooted from its home in the Donbas region of Ukraine in 2014, is accustomed to the change and instability brought on by war having played at stadiums around the nation for almost a decade.

The events that have taken place since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, however, have been exceptional even by Shakhtar’s standards.

According to the club’s CEO Sergei Palkin, “What we’re doing on the field is in support of our people, our refugees, and our Ukrainian Army.”

All of my and our coaching staff’s remarks to our players have simply emphasized that we are representing Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Premier League was put on hold for six months at the onset of Russia’s invasion, during which time Shakhtar organized a “Global Tour for Peace” across Europe to collect money for those affected by the conflict.

On their peace trip last year, Shakhtar Donetsk players are ready to face Olympiacos FC.
On their peace trip last year, Shakhtar Donetsk players are ready to face Olympiacos FC.
Getty Images/Milos Bicanski Getty Images, Europe
After the world soccer governing organization FIFA announced that international players could leave Ukrainian teams after the start of the war, games resumed in August. The coaching staff of Shakhtar also quit the team shortly after.

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“Half of our team left us,” We lost our coaching staff, so in reality, we had to start everything again,” explains Palkin.

Prior to the start of the Ukrainian Premier League, Shakhtar restructured its roster with Ukrainian players and appointed Croatian Igor Jovievi as its new coach.

In August, matches resumed, with Shakhtar taking the field in the west. But soccer would frequently seem like a remote issue in the face of the threat of war.

According to Palkin, it’s challenging for players because practically all of them live alone while their family are abroad in safe locations.

“From a psychological standpoint, it’s challenging… To survive, remain in that country [Ukraine], and experience all of life’s experiences is incredibly difficult.

The fact that Shakhtar’s impromptu team had to play its “home” games in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, made it unlikely that anyone would have predicted that they would advance in any way in the Champions League this season.

But after drawing with Real Madrid and Celtic and winning against RB Leipzig, Shakhtar finished third in Group F and advanced to the second-tier Europa League’s knockout stages.

After defeating RB Leipzig in the Champions League in September, Shakhtar’s players celebrated with a photo in front of the Ukrainian flag.
After defeating RB Leipzig in the Champions League in September, Shakhtar’s players celebrated with a photo in front of the Ukrainian flag.
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“It’s difficult to concentrate when you have problems in your home—big problems, a lot of people are dying,” adds Palkin.

“What we accomplished in the Champions League group stage was a miracle for us; we had a nearly new team and coaching staff, yet we finished third in the group. I’m quite proud of our group.

Currently on winter vacation is the Ukrainian Premier League. After Shakhtar’s two-leg Europa League match against Rennes on February 16 and 23, it will resume soon after.

Mykhailo Mudryk, the club’s outstanding player, will miss the start of the second half of the season after joining English Premier League team Chelsea for a record-breaking $75 million, plus an extra $35 million projected as a bonus.

Despite a catastrophic run of performances, Mudryk, who scored three goals in this season’s Champions League group stages, joins Chelsea with the team currently ranked 10th in the league.

However, Palkin thinks the 22-year-old winger can turn things around for Chelsea.

He describes Mykhailo as “a top professional and a highly ambitious guy.” He has high goals both on and off the field. I haven’t seen a player like this in the past 20 years. I have no doubt that this player will deliver Chelsea more victories.

Last October, Mudryk celebrated his goal against Celtic in the Champions League.
Last October, Mudryk celebrated his goal against Celtic in the Champions League.
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Following Mudryk’s relocation, Rinat Akhmetov, the president of Shakhtar, declared that he would provide $25 million to Ukraine’s war operations, including medical care and psychological assistance.

In addition to funding aid relief for Ukraine, Shakhtar also aspires to inspire hope every time the team takes the field.

According to Palkin, “when we play football, we demonstrate to the entire world that we are alive, that we are still alive, and that we must keep fighting.”

“We are conveying to the entire globe the importance of supporting Ukraine. Because democracy should triumph over authoritarianism, we must win this battle.