Shakhtar Donetsk, the Ukrainian soccer club, made known a $25 million initiative named ‘Heart of Azovstal’ on Monday aimed at supporting soldiers and their families in Mariupol. This move follows the club’s recent sale of star player Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea in the English Premier League.
Rinat Akhmetov, president of Shakhtar, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Today, I am allocating $25 million (UAH 1 billion) to assist our soldiers, defenders, and their families.
This funding will cover various needs, from medical and prosthetic treatments to psychological support and fulfilling specific requests.”
He praised the soldiers for their bravery, highlighting their role in containing the enemy early in the conflict, saying, “Their acts of bravery are unparalleled in modern history. It is their sacrifice and courage that have made us feel the inevitability of Ukraine’s victory.”
Shakhtar confirmed that they will receive a record-breaking transfer fee of $75 million for the 22-year-old Mudryk, with an additional $35 million expected as a bonus payment. Mudryk had scored three goals for Shakhtar during this season’s Champions League group stages.
Despite interest from several top European clubs, Chelsea secured Mudryk’s signature.
Looking ahead optimistically, Akhmetov expressed confidence in Ukraine’s eventual victory over Russia, envisioning a future where they could host Chelsea for a friendly match at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk, Ukraine.