(foto: Screenshot)
Once a symbol of footballing prestige, Donbas Arena has been left in ruins due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The former home of Shakhtar Donetsk, which once hosted Champions League matches and games at Euro 2012, has been abandoned since 2014.
Built in 2009 at a staggering cost of €380 million, the stadium was a state-of-the-art facility, boasting a capacity of over 52,000, 227 bathrooms with 471 toilets, multiple restaurants, lounges, fast-food outlets, shops, a fitness center, corporate boxes, and first aid facilities. Standing 54 meters high, it was once one of the most modern stadiums in Europe.
However, the outbreak of the War in Donbas in 2014 forced Shakhtar to leave their home. That same year, the stadium was struck by artillery fire despite previously hosting a "Peace March" condemning the violence. The club was left without a permanent venue, leading to years of relocation.
Shakhtar’s forced exile
Since leaving Donbas Arena, Shakhtar Donetsk has been forced to relocate multiple times:
- Arena Lviv (2014–2016)
- Metalist Stadion in Kharkiv
- Stadion Wojska Polskiego in Warsaw, Poland (2022–23)
- Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, Germany (2023–24)
- Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany (2024–25 for European matches)
Current state of Donbas Arena
According to a report by The Sun, the stadium is now completely unusable. The surrounding area is unmaintained, turnstiles are broken, and further damage occurred when the conflict escalated in 2022. A once-glorious footballing venue has now become an abandoned shell of its former self.