FC Shakhtar Donetsk — 90 Years of an Unbreakable History | Exclusive Ukrainian Postal Set, 2026

90 years of history. 46 major trophies. One club that still dreams of playing at home.

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of legendary Ukrainian football club FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukrposhta issued a special commemorative postal release: “FC Shakhtar (Donetsk). 90 Years of an Unbreakable History.”

This exclusive philatelic set brings together three important chapters of Shakhtar’s story — its European triumph, its dominance in Ukrainian football, and its enduring hope of one day returning home to Donetsk.

⚽ Three stamps. Three chapters of Shakhtar's story.

UEFA Cup Winners, 2009
One of the greatest moments in the club’s history. In the 2009 UEFA Cup final, Shakhtar defeated Werder Bremen 2–1 after extra time, claiming its first major European trophy.

16-time Champions of Ukraine
Shakhtar became one of the defining forces of Ukrainian football after independence. The club has won 16 Ukrainian league titles, placing it alongside Dynamo Kyiv at the top of the Ukrainian championship honours list.

“We Will Play at Home!”
Perhaps the most emotional image in the issue. The silhouette of the legendary Donbas Arena and the Shakhtar flag represent something much bigger than football — the hope that one day the club will return to its native Donetsk and play on its home ground again.

From Stakhanovets to a European football powerhouse

Shakhtar's story began in 1936, when the team was founded as Stakhanovets. In 1946, it adopted the name Shakhtar.

The club's first major successes came in the 1960s, when it won the Soviet Cup in 1961 and 1962. Further Soviet trophies followed before Shakhtar emerged as one of the giants of Ukrainian football after independence.

Today, the club's trophy cabinet contains 46 major trophies, including 16 Ukrainian championships, 15 Ukrainian Cups, 9 Ukrainian Super Cups and the historic 2009 UEFA Cup.

A club without a home — but not without a future

In 2009, Shakhtar opened the spectacular Donbas Arena, which quickly became one of Ukraine's most recognizable football stadiums.

But in 2014, Russia's aggression and the occupation of Donetsk forced the club to leave its home city. Since then, Shakhtar has played its “home” matches in different Ukrainian cities and across Europe.

The story continues in 2026. Shakhtar remains one of Ukraine's leading football clubs and continues to compete on the European stage.

🇺🇦 Shakhtar on the European football map

At the beginning of the 2026/27 season, Shakhtar ranks 30th in UEFA's European club coefficient ranking, with 56.250 points.

For Ukrainian football, Shakhtar is firmly among the country's elite. Together with Dynamo Kyiv, it holds the record for the most Ukrainian league championships.

Why are there First Day cancellations from Kyiv and Lviv?

The issue was officially cancelled with special First Day cancellations in Kyiv and Lviv on August 30, 2026.

This choice is particularly meaningful in the context of Shakhtar's modern history.

Donetsk is the club's home. Kyiv became one of the most important centres of Shakhtar's life after the club was forced to leave Donetsk, while Lviv has also played an important role in the club's years of displacement.

Ukrposhta has not published a separate official explanation for choosing these two cities, so any deeper symbolic interpretation should be regarded as an interpretation rather than an officially stated reason.

For collectors, however, the two different First Day cancellations make this set especially attractive: they document the same commemorative issue through two different Ukrainian postal locations.

The set includes

• Postal Block No. 230 featuring 3 stamps
• First Day Cover with the block and Kyiv First Day cancellation — August 30, 2026
• First Day Cover with the block and Lviv First Day cancellation — August 30, 2026
• Official Ukrainian postal issue, 2026
• Theme: Football / Ukrainian sports / FC Shakhtar Donetsk
• Postal block print run: 40,000

More than a football collectible, this is a small piece of the history of Donetsk, Ukrainian football and a club that has spent more than a decade playing away from home.

🧡🖤 “We Will Play at Home!”

A meaningful addition to any collection of Ukrainian football memorabilia, modern Ukrainian philately or Shakhtar Donetsk history.

Just one set!

Artist — Taran, V.
Country - Ukraine
Release Date - 08/30/2020