Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mudryk Transfer Helped Fund Ukraine’s War Efforts; Player now faces doping suspension

In January 2023, Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk completed a high-profile transfer, selling winger Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea for €70 million after attracting interest from several major European clubs.

Beyond the football headlines, Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin later revealed the broader humanitarian and national impact of the deal. According to Palkin, club owner Rinat Akhmetov allocated €25 million from the transfer fee to support Ukraine’s defense efforts and deliver humanitarian aid amid the ongoing war with Russia.

The conflict intensified with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022—an escalation of hostilities that began with the 2014 annexation of Crimea. Russia launched a multi-front assault targeting key Ukrainian regions, while Ukraine mounted a determined resistance under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, aided by military and humanitarian support from the West.

The war has resulted in widespread destruction, heavy casualties, and the displacement of millions, with Russian forces still occupying areas in the east and south of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Mykhailo Mudryk, now at Chelsea, is facing a provisional suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. The drug—meldonium—was reportedly administered while he was abroad on international duty, not while training with his club.

Ukraine had fixtures in Albania and Georgia during that time. Under current Football Association (FA) anti-doping regulations, Mudryk could face a ban of up to four years if found guilty.

Despite claiming innocence, the 23-year-old is not currently training with Chelsea at their Cobham facility and is instead following a personalized fitness program from home.