From the gate to the front: former Dynamo and Shakhtar goalkeeper Rudko detained while trying to escape abroad
17 September 14:59
According to Sportarena, 33-year-old former Dynamo and Shakhtar goalkeeper Artur Rudko tried to illegally leave Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
He was detained while trying to cross the border. Now the footballer is in the training center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where he is undergoing basic military training.
Football career
Rudko is known for his performances for leading Ukrainian and European clubs:
- “Dynamo Kyiv
- “Shakhtar Donetsk
- “Goverla (Zakarpattia)
- “Paphos (Cyprus)
- “Metalist Kharkiv
- “Lech (Poland)
- “Chornomorets Odesa
Last season, he left the Odesa club and was left without a team.
Context: athletes and mobilization
This is not the first time that athletes have been mobilized.
In 2024, football player Mykola Syrash joined a new team after being drafted into the Armed Forces, combining military service with training.
In general, public figures and athletes do not have separate exemptions from leaving during martial law. Men of military age, according to the law, can leave Ukraine only in exceptional cases.
Reaction of the football community
The football community is divided into several camps:
- Fans: there are opinions on social media that the attempted escape “damages the image of football” and calls into question the athletes’ loyalty to the country.
- Clubs: There are no official comments from his previous teams, but some representatives of football structures emphasize that “everyone is equal before the law.”
- Experts: Sports commentators note that such cases can be a “signal to other public figures” and affect the image of Ukrainian football in the world.
What’s next
Rudko is currently undergoing training in the Armed Forces. The future of his football career remains unknown.
Lawyers note that there may be no official criminal consequences in his case, as he was called up for military service after his arrest.
Sport and war
The war has radically changed the sports landscape in Ukraine. Many players moved abroad, while others stayed at home and trained under constant air raids.
Some athletes have joined the ranks of the Armed Forces or volunteer organizations. The Ministry of Sports has repeatedly stated that there are no special “privileges” for athletes.
