---
title: "Shattered glazing and 'mined' signs: what the Donbass Arena looks like after 12 years of occupation"
description: "Fresh photos from occupied Donetsk show the Donbass Arena in a ruined state: shattered glazing sections and 'mined' signs on the lawns. Shakhtar's home arena has not hosted matches since 2014."
date: 2026-08-25T13:14:02.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/donbass-arena-after-occupation-photos
tags: [donbass-arena, shakhtar, donetsk, occupation, football]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Shattered glazing and 'mined' signs: what the Donbass Arena looks like after 12 years of occupation

![Shattered glass on the facade of Donbass Arena in Donetsk after 12 years of occupation](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/25/donbass-arena-posle-okkupacii-foto/donbass-arena-posle-okkupacii-foto-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The Donbass Arena has been under Russian occupation for 12 years and has not hosted matches since 2014.
- The new photos show shattered glazing sections on the facade and 'mined' signs on the lawns.
- The stadium was built in 2009 and hosted matches of the 2012 European Championship.

Fresh photographs from occupied Donetsk, published by journalist and serviceman Yuriy Butusov and shared by the outlet [Sport RBC.UA](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/vibite-sklo-ta-tablichki-zaminovano-k-viglyadae-1787663164.html), have documented the continued degradation of the Donbass Arena — the home ground of Donetsk's Shakhtar, which has not hosted a single football match since 2014. Over 12 years under the control of Russian occupiers, the stadium, once considered one of the most modern arenas in Ukraine, has turned into an abandoned and damaged structure.

### A dump instead of the jewel of Donbass football

The deterioration of the arena had been known before: footage regularly appeared online showing lawns overgrown with weeds and a damaged facade. However, the new photos document a further decline. According to the author of the posts, the arena has effectively become a dump, where there are no signs whatsoever of the infrastructure being used or maintained.

### 'Mined' signs instead of lawn care

In the new photographs, the lawns in front of the arena are 'decorated' with signs warning of explosive objects. According to the author's assumption, the occupiers installed these signs to formally justify the lack of grass care and to avoid carrying out any lawn maintenance work. Thus, the warning signs have become a tool for concealing the negligent attitude toward the facility.

### Gaps in the facade glazing

Particular attention is drawn to the state of the stadium's glazed facade: in place of entire glazing sections, huge holes are visible. The shattered glass and breaches in the cladding indicate that the structure is not only unmaintained but continues to deteriorate, losing its architectural and functional characteristics.

### The arena's history: from Euro 2012 to desolation

The new stadium in Donetsk was built in 2009, after which Shakhtar moved there from the Olympic RSC. The Donbass Arena became the home ground for the city's team and hosted matches of the 2012 European Championship. Since 2014, when Donetsk fell under Russian occupation, there has been no football on the arena's lawn — the facility has been systematically degrading ever since, as confirmed by successive photographic records of its condition.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Shattered glass and 'mined' signs: what the Donbass Arena looks like after years of occupation](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/vibite-sklo-ta-tablichki-zaminovano-k-viglyadae-1787663164.html) - Первичный источник: фото Бутусова, выбитое остекление, таблички о минировании, история арены (2009, Евро-2012, 2014).
- [What the abandoned Donbass Arena has turned into. Butusov showed fresh photos from occupied ...](https://www.obozrevatel.com/sport-oboz/vo-chto-prevratilas-donbass-arena-butusov-pokazal-svezhie-foto-iz-okkupirovannogo-donetska.htm) - Подтверждает свежие фото из оккупированного Донецка и заброшенное состояние арены.
- [Overgrown with weeds and with a damaged facade: what the Donbass Arena looks like now — photos](https://sport.nv.ua/football/donbass-arena-seychas-novye-foto-zabroshennogo-stadiona-v-donecke-50635558.html) - Подтверждает заросший газон и поврежденный фасад стадиона.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: When did the Donbass Arena stop hosting matches?
**A:** Since 2014, when Donetsk fell under Russian occupation. There has been no football on the arena's lawn since then.

### Q: What can be seen in the new photographs of the stadium?
**A:** Shattered glazing sections on the facade with large breaches, overgrown lawns, and signs warning of explosive objects in front of the arena.

### Q: Why, according to the assumption, were the 'mined' signs installed?
**A:** According to the author's assessment, the occupiers installed them to formally justify the lack of lawn care and to avoid carrying out any grass maintenance work.