Before Putin’s forces invaded, eastern Ukraine was the hub of the nation’s sports scene. Now, it’s largely destroyed.
Russia’s efforts to erase Ukrainian culture are evident in the state of the region’s iconic stadiums, once buzzing with stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and pop icons such as Beyoncé and Rihanna.
Today, these landmarks in various cities appear eerie and deserted. In Crimea, under illegal Russian occupation since 2014, Ukrainian venues are used for Kremlin propaganda.
“Destroying normal life and erasing identity is deliberate,” said Glenn Micallef, European culture and sport commissioner, to POLITICO. He stressed sports’ role in identity. Federations must deny platforms for propaganda.
From Donetsk to Mariupol, and Luhansk to Crimea, POLITICO explored Ukraine’s sports facilities under occupation, showcasing Moscow’s cultural assault on its neighbor.
Donbas Arena, Donetsk
On August 29, Donetsk’s Donbas Arena turned 16. For 11 years, it has been in Russian-controlled territory — abandoned, damaged. Opened in 2009 by Shakhtar Donetsk’s owner Rinat Akhmetov, the $400 million arena was Ukraine’s first elite European football stadium. It hosted Euro 2012, Champions League games, and concerts by Beyoncé and Rihanna. It once symbolized Ukraine’s European ambitions.
In 2014, as war erupted, Shakhtar fled. The stadium was shelled, its glass façade shattered, and seized by militants. In a symbolic act, they changed Shakhtar’s name to the Russian spelling, Shakhter.
“I fought in many stadiums,” boxer Paulie Malignaggi told POLITICO, having won a title there in 2012. “This one stood out — state-of-the-art facilities. Memories are bittersweet.”
Volodymyr Boyko Stadium, Mariupol
After Russia’s 2022 occupation of Mariupol, the city’s main stadium was taken over by Española, a unit of Russian football hooligans. Videos from May 2023 showed militants in the arena, waving Soviet and Russian flags.
The stadium’s advanced hybrid turf, installed in 2021, is in ruins. Its structure bears shell damage, the pitch dried out in the summer of 2022 amid heavy bombardments.
Mariupol’s sports facilities shared a fate of destruction. The training base was turned into a military academy. The Illichivets sports complex, once a regional pride, took direct hits. Its facilities need massive reconstruction.
Moscow’s propaganda paints Mariupol as new for settlers, but locals see ruin.
Avanhard Stadium, Luhansk
Avanhard Stadium held special pride for Luhansk. In 1972, Zorya won the Soviet championship there. After 1991, the club rose to European competitions, filling the 22,000-seat stadium.
Growing up in Luhansk, attending games was a cherished family event. The stadium echoed with “Luhanshchyna,” a song about regional pride. The 2014 invasion moved the club and song to Zaporizhzhia, losing its original essence.
“Even in lower leagues, we never had fewer than 8,000 fans,” said Zorya legend Nikita Kamenyuka to POLITICO. “Playing in Luhansk gave us energy.”
In 2014, after renovation, Avanhard was shelled, taken by the Luhansk People’s Republic, and abandoned. Propaganda events and matches by a fake Zorya emerged.
Today, its stands crumble, its fixtures fade, and the track cracks. Russians claim renovation plans.
Lokomotiv Stadium, Crimea
Simferopol’s Lokomotiv Stadium, home to Tavriya, Ukraine’s first post-independence football champion, faced an unusual fate post-occupation.
Closed for years, it reopened in 2021 as a center for Crimean teams. In 2025, it hosted a match between occupied Crimea and Donetsk “republic” teams during “Day of Russia” celebrations, under Russian oversight.
Tavriya’s base is abandoned. Other Crimean stadiums defy rules, hosting Russian games.
“Holding matches in occupied Crimea flouts international law,” said Ukraine’s sports minister, Matviy Bidny, to POLITICO. “Games under the Russian flag, notably in Crimea, whitewash crimes.”
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