Former Shakhtar player Vladyslav Vakula joins Bulgarian side Fratria
After being mobilized in August 2026, 27-year-old Ukrainian winger Vladyslav Vakula has surprisingly surfaced at Bulgarian club Fratria, making his debut despite his status.
Former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Vladyslav Vakula has resumed his career in the Bulgarian league. Registration data for the 27-year-old Ukrainian appeared on the official website of the Bulgarian Football Union and the transfer portal Transfermarkt, linking him to the second-tier club Fratria.
According to the player's profile, the agreement was finalized on October 26, 2026. The Bulgarian club has not issued an official statement regarding the signing. Both the duration of the contract and the legal grounds allowing the footballer to cross the Ukrainian border after being mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine in August 2026 remain undisclosed.
Vakula has already made his debut for his new side, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute in a match against Montana. Fratria, which also features fellow Ukrainian Timur Korablin, lost the match 1:2 but continues to compete near the top of the league table.
Vakula previously played for Zorya Luhansk, parting ways with the club in the summer of 2026. Following his release and subsequent mobilization, his appearance in a foreign league has come as a significant surprise.