Ahead of the Champions League match in Milan between Shakhtar and Inter, an important event took place that went beyond sports competition. The Donetsk club organized a trip to Italy for three Ukrainian teenagers — Roman, Rostyslav, and Nikita — whose lives have been dramatically changed by Russian aggression. This trip provided the young people with an opportunity to share their personal stories with an international audience, drawing attention to the fates of Ukrainians caught in the epicenter of a massive military conflict.
The Price of Survival: From Tragedy to Dream
Eleven-year-old Roman became a witness and victim of a missile strike in July 2022. At the age of seven, he lost his mother and suffered severe injuries, including facial and cranial burns. After spending two weeks in a coma and undergoing a series of 37 operations in Dresden, Germany, Roman showed incredible resilience. He managed to regain his accordion-playing skills and achieved success in music competitions. Roman, who has become a devoted Shakhtar fan, dreams of picking up his custom instrument in December 2027, which is being crafted in Castelfidardo, Italy. During the pre-match press conference, Shakhtar's head coach Arda Turan personally greeted the youth, emphasizing how much the presence of such courageous people inspires the team.
Three Years in Occupation: The Experience of Rostyslav and Nikita
For nineteen-year-old Rostyslav, a native of the Zaporizhzhia region, the occupation began in 2022. For three years, he and his peers lived under heavy pressure: occupation authorities implemented their own educational programs, and schools were guarded by armed military personnel. Rostyslav recalls the propaganda lessons and the complete ban on the use of the Ukrainian language. In 2025, fearing forced mobilization into Russian forces, he managed to escape to Ukrainian-controlled territory with the help of the Red Cross.
Eighteen-year-old Nikita from the Kherson region also endured the trials of occupation, observing how military forces seized homes and compromised civilian safety. He managed to evacuate only in the summer of 2025 with his mother and brother. Now living in Kyiv and working at a pizzeria, Nikita has discovered football as a Shakhtar fan. His story, like those of his peers, became part of a vital humanitarian message that the club addressed to the international football community.
Sports as a Voice for Millions
The youth's visit to Milan was not merely a sightseeing trip; it was an attempt to leverage the scale of the Champions League to draw attention to the needs of children affected by the war. Roman actively suggests using the football platform to raise funds for medication and rehabilitation for victims. The meeting with the football world helped the boys share their experiences, which, according to the trip's organizers, may motivate other Ukrainians still in occupied territories to seek ways to secure their safety and relocate to safer regions of the country.
