Abandoned Donbass Arena Shows Toll of Conflict on Shakhtar Donetsk
New photos reveal the stark deterioration of Shakhtar Donetsk's former home stadium, as the club prepares to play Champions League matches in London.
New photographs have emerged showing the severely damaged and abandoned state of Shakhtar Donetsk's former home, the Donbass Arena, highlighting the ongoing impact of the conflict in Ukraine. The stadium, which once hosted matches for Euro 2012, has not seen a football game since 2014.
The initial abandonment of the stadium followed the outbreak of Russian aggression in the Donbas region in 2014, forcing Shakhtar to play in various cities across Ukraine. Since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, the club has also played its European fixtures abroad, in countries such as Poland, Germany, and Slovenia.
This season, Shakhtar will play their Champions League matches at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge in London. Ahead of their first "home game" against AEK Athens, the stark reality of their former stadium's condition was made public through images shared by Yuriy Butusov on his Telegram channel.
The photos reveal significant damage to the exterior structure of the Donbass Arena, with missing panels exposing the interior. Rust and discoloration are evident across the structure. The surrounding area is also heavily overgrown with grass and weeds. In one image, a sign in Ukrainian warns: "DO NOT WALK ON THE LAWN! CAUTION! EXPLOSIVE OBJECTS MAY BE PRESENT."
The area around the stadium appears largely deserted due to the ongoing conflict.
Despite these immense challenges, Shakhtar has demonstrated resilience, winning the Ukrainian Premier League last season under the management of former Barcelona player Arda Turan. They also reached the semi-finals of the Conference League.
Sergei Palkin, the club's CEO, spoke about the decision to move their Champions League matches to England. "We decided: let's move to England," Palkin stated, noting the presence of many Ukrainian refugees and residents in the city. "London is the football capital of the world. It's the biggest marketplace for players."
He added that playing at Stamford Bridge would provide extra motivation for their young players. Palkin approached Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali with the idea, who responded positively, leading to the arrangement.
Shakhtar will also wear an "Invest in Ukraine" slogan on their shirts during their Champions League campaign. Palkin explained this choice as a way to represent their country and remind the world of the ongoing situation. "We need support from the democratic world. We cannot fight alone," he said.
