The Ukrainian Premjer Liha is canceling its current season because of the Russian war of aggression – so there will be no football champion in 2022.

All 16 clubs in the top division agreed to this decision, the UPL announced on Tuesday evening.

The standings from February 24th are the final for the 2021/22 season.

After 18 match days, series champion Shakhtar Donetsk (47 points) was ahead of Dynamo Kyiv (45).

A few hours after Russian troops attacked Ukraine on February 24, the Ukrainian football association UAF suspended the first division.

The winter break of the Premjer Liha was originally supposed to end on February 25 with the game of relegation candidates FK Minaj against fourth-placed Sorja Luhansk.

"Due to the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, the Ukrainian championship was suspended," the UAF justified its decision a good two months ago.

Clubs like Sorja Luhansk or Shakhtar Donetsk, which come from the areas of eastern Ukraine that have been controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014, have not been training or playing in their home country for several years.

Soccer diplomacy in blue and yellow

On Tuesday, Dynamo Kyiv experienced an evening of soulful football diplomacy with a benefit game at Borussia Dortmund (3-2).

"We hope that we'll soon be able to play games like this again in Ukraine," said long-time national player Andrej Voronin after the game on ZDF.

"I pray every day that it will end as soon as possible." Unfortunately, he added sadly, "we see no end."

In any case, Dortmund sent a powerful signal of support on Tuesday evening.

The national anthem, performed incredibly emotionally by singer Julija Sanina, was one of the many goosebump moments.

"The glory and freedom of Ukraine haven't died yet," Sanina sang in a trembling voice - many of the 35,000 spectators, wrapped in blue and yellow flags, cried for their country. Ukrainians had free entry to the game.

The proceeds of about 400,000 euros – as well as the income from the Shakhtar Donetsk “peace tour” running at the same time – are intended to help as many people from the war zone as possible.

"We'll do something decent with it, we have a lot of experience there," promised Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke.

"It's about making a mark.

A sign of solidarity and against this despicable war of aggression”.

Football can probably not do more at the moment.

"After Ukraine's victory in this war, we want to see Borussia in Kyiv," said Igor Surkis, president of the former European champions, in a spontaneous return invitation: "Our fans will express their respect and admiration for this club, which is owned by the Ukrainians a helping hand is enough.”