Court fines former Chornomorets Odesa goalkeeper for trying to leave the country

The Oknyansky District Court of Odesa Oblast has ruled on the case of former Chornomorets Odesa football club goalkeeper Artur Rudko, who was detained for attempting to illegally cross the state border.

This was reported by Tribuna.com.

According to the established data, on August 30 at 19:10, on the western outskirts of the village of Rozivka, Podil district, Odesa region, border guards found Rudko at a distance of about 5 meters from the Ukrainian border. He was in a group of people and had his identity documents with him.

The football player tried to cross the state border of Ukraine in the direction of Moldova (Malaivtsi village - Dubeo village) outside the established checkpoints. The court, taking into account the place of detection and other evidence provided, concluded that the athlete's actions were intentional and aimed at illegal border crossing.

Artur Rudko was brought to administrative liability under Article 204-1, Part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (illegal crossing or attempted illegal crossing of the state border) and fined 800 tax-free minimum incomes, or UAH 13,600. In addition, a court fee of UAH 605.60 was imposed on him.

If the fine is not paid within 15 days after the ruling enters into force, it will double to UAH 27,200. The court decision came into force on October 20, 2025.

As the media noted, the footballer is a graduate of Dynamo Kyiv. During his career, he also played for football clubs Hoverla, Paphos, Metalist, Polish Lech, Shakhtar, and Odesa's Chornomorets, which he left at the end of last season.

According to unofficial information, the 33-year-old goalkeeper is undergoing basic training at the training center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Border guards stopped a car with four men and the 4-year-old son of one of them in August. Former goalkeeper Artur Rudko was among the passengers.

Анна Бальчінос