Ukraine’s Shakhtar to play Champions League home games at former Russian-owned Chelsea

Kyiv, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk announced on Friday that it has reached an agreement to play home Champions League matches at Chelsea, a club that was owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich for nearly two decades. Shakhtar, whose participation in the elite competition is limited due to security concerns during the ongoing Russian military invasion of Ukraine since February 2022, will play four home games at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge "subject to regulatory approvals" from UEFA.

The opponents for these matches will be determined during the competition draw next Thursday in Monaco. Shakhtar expressed its hope to return to playing European football in front of its own fans in Ukraine "very soon." However, the club has been unable to play in Donetsk since 2014, when conflict began in the Donbas region. Shakhtar has played UEFA competition games in Ukraine from 2014-2021 and since 2022 in Poland, Germany, and Slovenia, but has yet to play a home game in England.

Chelsea's squad includes former Shakhtar winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, and the English club has no fixture clashes with the Ukrainian champion during the Champions League season. Chelsea stated that they will work closely with Shakhtar to ensure the matches are held safely and comfortably for both the team and its supporters.