Vladyslav Helzin

Vladyslav Helzin — Football and Social Activities

Vladyslav Helzin is a person whose life and career are deeply intertwined with Ukrainian football. However, he is known not only for his athletic achievements. As the president of the Donetsk football club Olimpik, a political figure, and a striker, he also stands out for his active civic engagement.

Under Vladyslav Helzin’s leadership, the Olimpik Charitable Foundation was established in 2001. Initially, the main focus was on supporting youth and children’s football in Donetsk and the region. One of the key directions was helping children from low-income families and orphans. Thanks to these efforts, hundreds of boys were given the opportunity to develop their skills in sports to a professional level.

Today, the founder of the Olimpik Foundation is actively assisting the military and displaced persons from the very first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Life and Career of Vladyslav Helzin

Vladyslav Helzin is a native of Donbas, born on August 27, 1973, in Donetsk. From a young age, his primary passion was football, which led him to the “Stalevar” sports school, where he took his first steps toward a professional career. After finishing school, Helzin entered the Economics Faculty of Donetsk National University and later continued his education at the Donetsk State Institute of Health, Sports, and Physical Education. Vladyslav Helzin also served as a deputy in the Donetsk Regional Council. Starting in 1999, he held the position of Vice President of the Donetsk FC “Metalurh,” and in 2001, he became the President of FC “Olimpik.”

His football career began in 2000 when he played for the team “Mashynobudivnyk” (Druzhkivka). From 2003 onward, he played as part of the main squad of FC “Olimpik.” Throughout his professional career, the striker played 152 matches and scored 25 goals. Helzin set two records: as the oldest debutant and striker in Ukraine’s Premier League. After retiring as a player in 2016 at the age of 42, he continued leading FC “Olimpik,” which suspended its activities in 2021.

Charity and Social Activities

In 2001, under Vladyslav Helzin’s leadership, a charitable foundation and football club named “Olimpik” were established. The foundation’s main focus was supporting youth and children’s football. With his assistance, a children’s football academy was built in Donetsk, where hundreds of children trained for free until 2014. Young players practiced in a modern sports complex that included a central stadium with a 4,500-spectator capacity, adjacent grass and synthetic fields, and a full infrastructure necessary for sports activities. Thanks to comprehensive professional and financial support, young athletes grew into professional football players and had opportunities to achieve success.

After the war began in eastern Ukraine in 2014, the foundation continued its activities in Kyiv.

The War Brings Changes

Since February 2022, following the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the charitable foundation under Vladyslav Helzin’s leadership has completely reoriented its activities. Previously, the primary focus was on football and sports training for children from low-income families. Now, all efforts are directed toward assisting people affected by the war, including internally displaced persons, orphanages, and care homes.

Thanks to the work of the Olimpik Charitable Foundation, thousands of families have received and continue to receive targeted aid, including financial and humanitarian support. The foundation actively collaborates with the Obukhiv Military-Civil Administration to meet the needs of displaced persons. It has also established partnerships with socially responsible businesses and international volunteer organizations.

Support for the Ukrainian Army

The Olimpik Charitable Foundation, led by Vladyslav Helzin, provides significant support to Ukraine’s defenders. Based on the requests of specific military units, the foundation regularly procures and promptly delivers equipment needed to complete military tasks.

Together with its partners, the foundation has provided the military with a significant range of equipment, including SUVs, thermal imaging devices, Starlink stations, charging stations, and Mavic drones. In addition, the foundation regularly supplies medicines and other essentials for frontline needs.

For his active civic stance and contribution to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Vladyslav Helzin was awarded by the Center for Special Operations “A” of the Security Service of Ukraine.

Vladyslav Helzin emphasizes:
“Now it is crucial to focus all efforts on helping those who need it most. I urge everyone to contribute, whether through donations or other forms of assistance. Visit our website to learn how you can help people in these challenging times.”

Volunteers, NGOs, and the global business community are actively involved in supporting war victims. Only by uniting everyone’s efforts can a path to a better future be paved.