Record-breaking Attendance in Ukrainian Premier League Amid War: A Historic Achievement for Football Fans
Despite ongoing external challenges and the brutal realities of war that have persisted for over two years, Ukrainian Premier League football continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience and the ability to draw large crowds.
The most significant indicator of this resilience was achieved during the opening match of the season’s first round: an attendance of nearly ten thousand spectators – precisely 9850 – gathered at the Roman Shukhevych Stadium in Ternopil to witness an intense encounter between "Epicenter" and "Shakhtar." This figure set a new attendance record since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
Previously, the highest attendance was documented on May 26, 2025, during a match at Ukraine Stadium in Lviv, where "Karpaty" played against "Zorya" and drew 6500 fans.
It is important to note that under the current wartime conditions, matches are often interrupted when air-raid sirens sound, and on some stadiums, sections remain closed for safety reasons, limiting fan access.
Nevertheless, the football community displays unwavering resilience and a desire to return to normal sporting life despite the hardships.
Last season, Kyiv’s "Dynamo" secured the Ukrainian championship, while "Olexandriya" achieved its first-ever silver medals, and "Shakhtar" finished third overall.
The new season has already started, with "Shakhtar" winning their first match with a narrow victory over the debutant team.
Additionally, reports indicate that a foreign legionnaire playing in the Ukrainian Premier League is considering leaving Ukraine due to ongoing Russian shelling and military aggression."