FC Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov sums up the departing year and wishes the fans a Happy New Year 2024
Dear fans! Dear friends!
We got through the year of 2023 together with you. It was another year of struggle. The struggle of Ukraine for its freedom and independence, the struggle of the Ukrainian people for a free and happy life. It was a year of victories. Great victories of Ukrainian soldiers in battles with the enemy and in the liberation of the Ukrainian land from the occupiers, small victories of everyone who helps the army and civilians suffering from the war.
Supporting Ukraine and Ukrainians as much as it takes for victory is our main and most responsible mission today. During the 22 months of the full-scale war, we spent almost UAH 7 billion on helping the country, Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. We provide the defenders of Ukraine with things required at the front, help in the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers, take care of the defenders of Azovstal and their families, give humanitarian support to the population. And I want to assure you that this help will continue.
For Shakhtar, 2023 was a year of fighting and victories. The club and the team fought not only with opponents on the football field, but also with the challenges that the war poses at us. And I am grateful to everyone – coaches, footballers, administrative and medical staff of the team, management and employees of the club – for not giving up and overcoming difficulties together and continuing to maintain a high European level in everything: in the play, in the results, in the organization of all processes.
Thanks to this, Shakhtar won the Ukraine Championship and won the 14th title in the history. This championship is probably the most difficult and most valuable for our club. But the main thing is that the team gave bright emotions to millions of Ukrainians with their play because now such moments of happiness are vital for each of us.
I am sure that 2024 will bring us new victories! And above all, let it be our great joint victory – victory in the war and the return of peace to the Ukrainian land. I am convinced that we will win, that Ukraine will be a free and independent, strong and prosperous country!
And Shakhtar, as always, will set only the highest goals – to glorify Ukraine though success in the European arena, to give fans a good play and new trophies. I know that the team will do everything possible so that Ukrainians can be proud of them.
I wish each of us strength, endurance and patience to continue the fight in the new year of 2024. I wish each of us to remember our soldiers, thanks to whom we can live on our land and play football. And I wish us emotional warmth which will help warm everyone around, and especially those who suffered from the war.
May you and your families be healthy! May harmony and unconditional faith in the victory of Ukraine reign in your homes!
Happy New Year!
With deepest respect,
FC Shakhtar president
Rinat Akhmetov
