Despite not owning a Ukrainian passport, Svyatik Artemenko enlisted with Ukraine’s armed forces Friday — one day after Russia invaded Ukraine, and two days after signing a professional soccer contract.
Highlights
- Svyatik Artemenko enlisted with Ukraine’s armed forces Friday, one day after Russia invaded Ukraine.
- The 22-year-old was born in Odesa, Ukraine, before his family immigrated to Canada when he was two years old.
- He tried to enlist Thursday in the western Ukrainian city of Khmelnytskyi, but was turned away before being approved the next day.
- Artemanko led Guelph United F.C., a men’s semi-pro soccer club, to win the League1 Ontario title, and backstopped the University of Guelsph Gryphons men’s soccer squad to an unbeaten Ontario University Athletics regular season and the conference title.