Champions League
The Russians killed the coach of Shakhtar. The head of the Ukrainian big club called on the Russian people to help end Putin’s madness
Shakhtar Donetsk, although affected by the war since 2014, has been apolitical for a very long time. But in the past week, that has clearly changed. It was no secret that the club was pro-Ukrainian, but no one commented on politics. But after the Russian invasion last week, Shakhtar clearly expressed support for Ukraine, and now the club’s boss has spoken out on the conflict.
Shakhtar Donetsk, although affected by the war since 2014, has been apolitical for a very long time. But in the past week, that has clearly changed. It was no secret that the club was pro-Ukrainian, but no one commented on politics. But after the Russian invasion last week, Shakhtar clearly expressed support for Ukraine, and now the club’s boss has spoken out on the conflict. He also confirmed the unpleasant news.
One of Ukraine’s biggest clubs has been affected by Russian aggression since 2014, when Shakhtar Donetsk had to move. It first played in Lviv and Kharkiv, but since 2020 it has been permanently moved to Kiev.
Yet the Ukrainian giant has made virtually no comment on politics. And that was true even a few days after the Russians launched their attack on Ukraine last week. But that has already changed. Shakhtar has clearly sided with Ukraine. There was no reason to remain silent any longer.
Moreover, Russian aggression has its first victim in Shakhtar’s ranks. The club’s CEO Sergei Palkin confirmed this on his Facebook page: ‘Yesterday our employee, the youth coach, was killed. He was killed by a fragment of a Russian grenade. Russians, you are killing Ukrainians. Stop this madness, do not be silent!”
Palkin appealed to the owners, management and players of Russian football clubs to stand up against Russian aggression. But so far to no effect. He described the Russian attack as treacherous. He said Russia, a nation that did much to defeat Nazism, was becoming a nation of terrorists and silent cowards.
“In sports, fear reduces the probability of victory to zero. Your fear to oppose the war in Ukraine has destroyed cities, your fear has caused thousands of civilian deaths, dead children and the crippled fates of millions. Your fear to go against the bloody regime is your greatest defeat,” the Shakhtar chief said.
In his post, Palkin posted photos of Ukrainian cities after the Russian attacks to show the atrocities committed by the Russian military.
Source: Goal, Shakhtar Donetsk
