--- title: "UAF Puts Yefimov's Appointment to the U-15 National Team on Hold: Coach Explains His Past in Donetsk" description: "The UAF has frozen the appointment of Dmytro Yefimov as head coach of the U-15 national team due to his work in Donetsk in 2014–2018. In an exclusive comment, the coach himself acknowledged the \"mistake\" and stated his pro-Ukrainian position, but as of August 31, 2026, there is no final decision on his candidacy." date: 2026-08-31T04:06:09.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/uaf-pauses-yefimov-appointment-u15-national-team-donetsk tags: [ukraine-football, uaf, yefimov, u15-national-team, shakhtar-donetsk, bukovyna-chernivtsi, youth-football] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # UAF Puts Yefimov's Appointment to the U-15 National Team on Hold: Coach Explains His Past in Donetsk ![Coach Yefimov in Bukovyna FC kit on the training ground, whose appointment to Ukraine's U-15 national team was put on hold by the UAF](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/31/uaf-pauza-naznachenie-yefimova-sbornaya-u15-donetsk/uaf-pauza-naznachenie-yefimova-sbornaya-u15-donetsk-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The UAF has paused the appointment of Dmytro Yefimov as head coach of the U-15 national team due to his work in Donetsk in 2014–2018 - In an exclusive comment, Yefimov acknowledged working on the occupied territory, called it a "mistake," and stated that he corrected it in July 2018 - From July 2024 to June 2026, Yefimov worked at FC Bukovyna (Chernivtsi); before that, he was within the Shakhtar structures in Kyiv - As of August 31, 2026, the UAF has not announced a final decision on the appointment or refusal The Ukraine U-15 youth national team still has no head coach. According to the "TaToTake" project, the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) has paused the process of appointing Dmytro Yefimov, who was considered the top candidate for the position, due to his involvement in football activities on the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk Oblast. As of August 31, 2026, no final decision on appointing the specialist to the youth team had been made. ### Career Timeline and the Controversial Period The 41-year-old Yefimov outlined his professional biography in detail in an exclusive comment to Sport RBC.UA. From 2014 to 2018, he worked at the Shakhtar Youth Academy in Donetsk. Then, from July 2018 to July 2024, he continued his collaboration with the club, but already in Kyiv. From July 2024 to June 2026, Yefimov worked at FC Bukovyna (Chernivtsi), where he lived while his family remained in Kyiv. The main focus of his work throughout his career has been youth and junior teams. ### The Coach's Position: "I Corrected My Mistake" Yefimov did not deny the fact of working in Donetsk during the 2014–2018 period. "I understand why questions about my past have arisen now. Yes, at a certain stage of my career I worked with teams that were located on the temporarily occupied territory. Today I look back on that period of my life with great regret. I corrected my mistake eight years ago, in July 2018," the specialist stated. He emphasized that he does not intend to justify his past decisions and stressed: "I support Ukraine and tie my future exclusively with Ukrainian football. I live in Ukraine together with my family. This is my home, this is my family." ### Contradictory Data The statements from both sides show a difference in how the 2014–2018 period is characterized. In his comment, Yefimov refers to the Donetsk of that time as the "Ukrainian Donetsk" and emphasizes that he worked within the structures of FC Shakhtar, i.e., within a legitimate Ukrainian club. Meanwhile, the UAF, according to "TaToTake" information, treats this episode as involvement in football activities on the temporarily occupied territory, which is what led to the freezing of the appointment. Thus, one side emphasizes institutional affiliation with a Ukrainian club, while the other — the geographical and political status of the territory where the work was actually carried out. Moreover, Yefimov characterizes 2018 as the moment of "correcting the mistake," whereas the UAF's position contains no public confirmation that this argument was taken into account when the decision was made. ### Desire to Work with the National Team and Future Prospects Despite the situation, Yefimov expressed his readiness to continue working with Ukrainian football. "I believe it is right to evaluate not only what happened many years ago, but also what values and what position a person holds today. As for the offer to work with the Ukraine U-15 national team — for me this is a great responsibility and an honor," the coach summarized. He added that he wants to help young players develop and contribute to the development of Ukrainian football, and is ready to confirm his position "first and foremost through his actions and further work." At present, the UAF has announced neither a final refusal nor a confirmation of the appointment, and the question remains open. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [UAF Puts the Appointment of the U-15 National Team Coach on Hold Due to His Past: What Is Known](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/uaf-postavila-pauzu-priznachennya-trenera-1788123137.html) - Источник содержит эксклюзивный комментарий Ефимова, хронологию его карьеры (2014–2018 Донецк, 2018–2024 Киев/Шахтёр, 2024–2026 Буковина) и ссылку на данные проекта «ТаТоТаке» о позиции УАФ. Все ключевые факты статьи верифицированы по данному источнику. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why did the UAF freeze Yefimov's appointment to the U-15 national team? **A:** According to the "TaToTake" project, the UAF is not in a hurry to make a decision on Yefimov's appointment due to his involvement in football activities on the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk Oblast during the 2014–2018 period, when he worked at the Shakhtar Youth Academy in Donetsk. ### Q: How does Yefimov himself comment on his period of work in Donetsk? **A:** Yefimov acknowledges that in 2014–2018 he worked within the Shakhtar structures in Donetsk, calls it a "mistake" that he "corrected in July 2018" by moving to Kyiv. He emphasizes that he supports Ukraine and ties his future exclusively with Ukrainian football. ### Q: Where did Yefimov work after 2018? **A:** From July 2018 to July 2024, he continued working at Shakhtar, but already in Kyiv. From July 2024 to June 2026, he worked at FC Bukovyna (Chernivtsi). The main direction of his work has always been youth and junior teams. ### Q: Has the UAF made a final decision on Yefimov's candidacy? **A:** No. As of August 31, 2026, no final decision on the appointment or refusal has been made. The process is on hold, and the UAF has not announced a public position on the outcome of the candidacy review.