In this special episode of the SportsPro Podcast we hear from Sergei Palkin, the chief executive of Ukrainian soccer powerhouse Shahktar Donetsk, about the challenge of leading change in the face of conflict as his club struggles for survival amid the Russian invasion of his homeland. Recorded at SportsPro Live 2023, Palkin is in conversation with Empower Sports' Pedro Pinto. Talking points: How the war changed everything for Shakhtar and the Ukrainian people (6:30) Why was important to return to football (9:23) Fifa, Annexe Seven and the cost of losing players (11:28) Representation in the ECA and UEC (16:35) Pivoting from being a recruitment strategy to a development strategy (18:18) What others can do to support Ukrainian clubs (20:58) The reality of operating a club in a warzone (24:51) Quick-fire questions (30:25)