Ukrainian winger Vladyslav Vakula, who found himself at the center of public attention last summer due to being detained by territorial recruitment center representatives and subsequently sent to a training center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has officially resumed his professional career abroad. The new chapter in the 27-year-old footballer's career is the Bulgarian club Fratria, which plays in the Second League of the Bulgarian championship. Information about the player's registration appeared on the official website of the Bulgarian Football Union and the specialized portal Transfermarkt, and the athlete has already managed to debut for his new team.
Transfer Details and Debut in the Bulgarian Championship
The formalization of employment relations between Vakula and Fratria took place on October 26, 2026. The terms of the agreement, as well as the circumstances that allowed the player to leave Ukraine after passing the military medical commission and being assigned to the training center, remain unknown for now. The forward has already played his first official match for the Bulgarian squad, coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute of the match against Montana. At his new club, Vakula reunited with another Ukrainian midfielder, Tymur Korablin, with whom they previously crossed paths at Zorya Luhansk and Mynai.
Background of Mobilization and Player's Career Path
The footballer's last Ukrainian club was Zorya Luhansk, which he left as a free agent in July 2026. In August of the same year, Vakula was detained by territorial recruitment center representatives at the railway station in Lviv. After undergoing a mandatory medical board, he was sent to a training center for military preparation. Throughout his professional career, the product of Ukrainian football has managed to play for Shakhtar Donetsk, Mariupol, Vorskla Poltava, Desna Chernihiv, and Polissya Zhytomyr, though his performances were repeatedly accompanied by high-profile disciplinary scandals and incidents off the football pitch.
Sports Past and Off-Pitch Scandals
The player's biography is full of serious incidents that affected his career at leading Ukrainian clubs. In 2021, he was expelled from Desna Chernihiv for violating the regime, after which he was involved in a road traffic accident while intoxicated in Mariupol. Later, Vakula scandalously left Polissya Zhytomyr due to a conflict and fight during the celebration of the team's promotion to the Premier League, and was also brought to administrative responsibility for disobeying law enforcement agencies.
Club Prospects and Tournament Standings
The Ukrainian winger's new team, Bulgarian side Fratria, is currently waging an active battle for promotion in class. The squad occupies fourth place in the standings of the Bulgarian Second League and expects to compete for a spot in the elite division of the national championship. The presence of experienced Ukrainian legionnaires, including Vakula and Korablin, is expected to strengthen the club's attacking line in the second half of the season.
