Life can change in an instant. Just ask Wyoming Seminary senior Artur Zelenko. One day, he was practicing soccer with his teammates. The next, he was fighting for his life in Ukraine.
As you’d expect, Zelenko recalls the exact moment that his world flipped upside down. “It was around 4 A.M. on February 24th of 2022. I woke up and there was a strange noise, like bombing,” Zelenko said. At first, he didn’t think too much of it and went back to sleep, assuming it was just his upstairs neighbors fighting.
But it was much more than that. Zelenko woke up three and a half hours later when he heard the TV on blast. “I see my mom and my dad in the kitchen. I walk in, see the news, and I see the big text saying ‘Russia invaded Ukraine,’” Zelenko said.
For Zelenko, life looks completely different now than it did a couple years ago. Instead of waking up to the sounds of bombs, he now wakes up in Kingston, PA, during the school year. While Zelenko noted that it obviously was a drastic change, he also spoke on the seamless transition of his move to the United States for school. “I didn’t really have time to think about the new things. I just dove in, Zelenko said. It didn’t feel like I was homesick or anything.”
A major reason Zelenko felt so at home was the time he spent on the soccer field. He played an instrumental role in the Blue Knights’ PIAA District 2 Class A championship run — scoring two critical go-ahead penalties in the semifinal and final game. He was also at the center of one of last fall’s most memorable moments at Nesbitt Stadium. After essentially punching Sem’s ticket to the championship with his penalty kick, Zelenko leapt onto the railing to celebrate with his friends.
Between balancing a demanding course load and daily soccer practices, he has plenty to keep him busy. Yet, that hasn’t stopped the soccer star from giving back to his home country.
This summer, Zelenko started Rebuild Ukraine — a personal project of his that aims to empower young people worldwide to help with Ukraine’s long-term recovery. This youth-led initiative strives to raise public awareness, promote unity, and support the rebuilding of homes, schools, and infrastructure in Ukraine. Zelenko said that he felt an urgency to act now, prompting him to collaborate with The Spirit of Ukraine to get aid moving quickly.
When Zelenko was asked about a particular story that motivated him to start Rebuild Ukraine, he couldn’t pinpoint just one. “It’s multiple stories. You hear about a person you were going to school with, or your uncle, and now they’re in the war — or they’re dead,” Zelenko said.
Zelenko made sure to voice his frustration for the common misconception that the war has ended or halted. He explained how this past year that some classmates thought a full-scale ceasefire had occurred in Ukraine. “People were asking me — didn’t the war end in Ukraine?,” Zelenko said. “The news just doesn’t mention it as much.” Zelenko believes that raising awareness of the war is just as important as raising money.
As for how to get involved in helping Ukraine, Zelenko encouraged those wanting to donate to give through credible organizations to ensure the money truly reaches Ukraine. He also hopes to give back to Sem in the future for helping him through such a life-changing couple years.
While he’s proud of the impactful work he’s doing off the field, Zelenko admits that soccer remains his escape. After long days of school and constant reminders of the war at home, the pitch is the one place where he can release it all. “It’s an environment where people come and can let out all their emotions and negative energies,” Zelenko said.
You might think that the pressure of a district playoff game or the weight of the war back home affects Zelenko — but it only motivates him to keep going every single day. For Zelenko, every kick of the ball is a reminder of his purpose to keep fighting, both on the field and for the future of Ukraine.
Even with everything he’s faced, Zelenko’s eyes are now set on one goal — capturing another district championship for Sem Boys Soccer.
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- Matt Mascarenhas ’26
MATT SPORTS MEDIA 
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