Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jack Rosser

Ukrainian Premier League suspended as martial law declared following Russian invasion

The Ukrainian Premier League has been suspended following the declaration of martial law in the country due to Russia's invasion on Thursday.

Russian forces crossed the border and began air strikes on Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday morning, leading to Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, declaring martial law in the country.

The Ukrainian Premier League was due to restart this weekend following its annual winter break, though those plans have now been suspended due to the crisis unfolding.

Shakhtar Donetsk, the League leaders who have been forced to play away from home in Lviv, Kharkiv and Kyiv since fighting first broke out in the Donbas region in 2014, tweeted a picture of the Ukrainian national flag on Thursday morning, alongside the caption: "We'll withstand it!"

UEFA have called an extraordinary meeting of their Executive Committee on Friday morning, where it is expected that they will strip Russia and St. Petersburg of the right to hold this season's Champions League Final.

Zenit St. Petersburg are set to face Real Betis in the Europa League - in Spain - on Thursday night.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.