immersion in the Shakthar Donetsk football club, which has created a section for amputee soldiers

The famous Ukrainian football club has set up a team to breathe new life into war veterans. Franceinfo met them during one of their first training sessions.

At 26, Bogdan had just given up his dream of becoming a professional footballer. Then there was the war, and this combat injury on Bakhmout’s side, on June 28, 2023. “I had the entire left side of my body torn apart, both collarbones and ribs broken. Everyone thought I was going to die, but I survived. I spent three days in a coma and recovered. I’m awake.” The young Ukrainian was still in hospital when he learned that the prestigious Shakthar Donetsk club was creating a team of amputee footballers.

He saw the possibility of a new life, even if he had to reconsider his ambitions. “I play goalkeeper, he regrets. It’s the rule in football for amputees, those who have lost an arm play goalkeeper and those who have lost a leg are outfield players.” The Shakthar club, well known to football fans for its performances in European cups, with a victory in the Europa League in 2009, was itself a victim of the Russian invasion. He had to leave his city of Donetsk in 2014 to find refuge in the capital kyiv.

“It’s a social issue”

In this team, however, it is not only about sport. “It’s a social issue: there are a lot of amputee soldiers, they need to have something to do,” testifies Ivan, the captain of the team, crutches in hand and his left leg amputated. He has never really played football but above all he wants to return to fight, despite his injury. “I’m going to return to my unit as soon as I finish my rehabilitation, he wants to clarify. Playing here is part of it.”

The objective is to create positive examples of reintegration into civilian life for these thousands of men who return mutilated from the front. This is a real challenge for the country and for the club but there remains a small drawback: there is no football championship for amputees in Ukraine. “Not yet, but we hope that other Ukrainian clubs will join our initiative,” hopes its strategic director Yuri Svyrydov.

“Abroad it’s very developed, the biggest clubs have their teams of amputees: Chelsea, Manchester United… We hope that one day we will be able to face them”, he continues. Until then, we will have to train two to three times a week and strengthen the team. Other players should arrive, as soon as they can leave the hospital.