Shakhtar Donetsk, one of Ukraine’s most storied clubs, originally hailing from the city of Donetsk, is today operating under the pressures of occupation and conflict. Beyond its duties on the pitch, the club has launched a series of charitable initiatives aimed at supporting people hit hardest by the war, including wounded soldiers and orphans. The story first appeared through AFP and has since traveled the globe in multiple translations.
The humanitarian work has also drawn interest in Spain, and especially from Barcelona. One beneficiary, a Ukrainian serviceman, was reported by El Periódico, part of the Prensa Ibérica group, to have been transferred to the Gutmann Institute with severe brain injuries. He arrived on March 20 and will remain in Barcelona for several months to receive delicate surgical care.
His name is Vitaliy, 35, who was injured during shelling near Donetsk in August of the previous year. The seriousness of his condition, coupled with the ongoing strain on Ukraine’s healthcare system amid the war, prompted Shakhtar to take a closer look at his case, according to club sources.
message to spanish football
The plan also calls for the transfer of a second soldier to the same clinic soon. In this incident, near Mariupol, the injured fighter is conscious but unable to move. The other two fighters involved in the project were sent to additional specialized centers in the United States and Israel. The potential options for a sixth soldier are still being assessed.
The project, clarified by Shakhtar sources, is entirely funded by the team. It has been made possible through a series of Ukrainian and charity matches held last year to raise funds, alongside support from other European clubs. “We’d love to see more collaborations, perhaps with Spanish clubs or through other initiatives”, said Yuriy Svyrydov, Shakhtar’s communications director.
Apart from the soldier relief program, Shakhtar runs another initiative in Lviv, creating a shelter for internally displaced people. The facility has hosted around 2,000 individuals. The club also supports a program for roughly thirty orphaned children, with more than half finding new homes through its efforts.