A match in Ukraine between Shakhtar Donetsk and Oleksandriya was interrupted due to a rain siren in the air. While Shakhtar held a narrow 1-0 lead, sirens sounded indicating possible military missile threats in the area.
Players and coaches returned to their locker rooms during the commotion. The sirens reportedly lasted nearly an hour. Shakhtar’s English Twitter account also claimed that half time was cut to just five minutes due to the long break.
Play eventually resumed after the sirens died down. Shakhtar thought they scored the winner in the 82nd minute, when star striker Mykhaylo Mudryk scored his seventh goal of the season. However, Oleksandriya found the equalizer just four minutes later. The match ended tied at 2-2.
Football in Ukraine resumed in August despite the danger of the ongoing conflict within the country. Russia invaded the country in February.
Shakhtar have been forced to play domestic games in Lviv this season. Donetsk is quite close to the Russian border and is considered unsafe for the public. Lviv, on the other hand, is about 750 miles west of Donetsk.
The Ukrainian club has even had to play its Champions League matches in another country. Shakhtar previously signed a deal to play their European group stage matches in Warsaw, Poland, this season. Warsaw is another 250 miles northwest of Lviv.
Travel is taking its toll on the Ukrainian giants. Shakhtar have even had to postpone some of their domestic matches due to the constant back and forth between the two cities.
Despite the trip, Shakhtar remain second in the Ukrainian Premier League table, just two points off the leader. They have even qualified to continue playing in Europe.
A positive result in midweek could give the Ukrainians access to the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League. Even a loss or draw against RB Leipzig on Wednesday would still put Shakhtar in Europa League competition.
Photo credit: IMAGO / Vitalii Kliuiev
