Chornomorets stadium in Odesa hit by Russian strike, two injured

The Chornomorets stadium in Odesa, Ukraine, now stands as a visible scar of the war after a Russian attack severely damaged the venue this Friday. Emergency services reported two people injured in the strike, which targeted the southern Ukrainian city.

The stadium, one of the largest in the country with a capacity of nearly 35,000 spectators, sustained serious damage. The Ukrainian emergency service stated that the roof, glazing, and stands were destroyed. A fire also broke out in nearby dry grass as a result of the impact.

The club, Chornomorets Odesa, was forced to postpone its match scheduled for this Saturday, originally set to take place at the damaged stadium against Kolos Kovalivka. The Odesa side had finished as runners-up in the domestic league last season, and the setback will require significant investment to restore the stadium’s infrastructure, if repairs are feasible.

The conflict with Russia has now spanned four years for the Ukrainian people, and football has not been spared. During the recent FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile in 2025, the Ukrainian youth team reached the round of 16 and delivered an emotional message to the nation.

"Above all, I want to thank those defending our country right now, because without them we wouldn’t be here," said midfielder Bohdan Budko, a starter in the team’s opening match, in remarks to AP. "We will try to do everything possible so that they can be proud of us."

Kristian Shevchenko, son of AC Milan and 2004 Ballon d’Or winner Andriy Shevchenko, also joined the message. "We will keep them in our hearts and minds at all times, and hopefully we can bring the trophy back to our country," he added.

The attack on the stadium underscores the ongoing toll of the war on Ukrainian society, where football venues have become targets or collateral damage in a conflict now entering its fifth year.

For Chornomorets, the road to recovery remains uncertain, with the immediate priority on ensuring the safety of fans and staff before any plans for reconstruction can be considered.