Asheville City SC Supports Ukrainian Soccer Player On and Off the Field

By Pune Media On Jun 10, 2025

ASHEVILLE —

(WLOS) An Asheville City Soccer Club veteran, Yuliia Khrystiuk, joined the Blues in 2022. She was planning to go home to Ukraine that summer, but decided to stay in the U.S. because of the Russo-Ukrainian war. She found not only a team to help support her on the field, but a community to support her off the field as well.

Khrystiuk came to the U.S. in 2021 and, “it was already tough enough to be far away from home, from my family.” She described how she was in the Washington D.C. airport on the way back from a national team camp in Poland when she read online about the first missiles launched on Ukraine. “I just really couldn’t believe that at the moment,” she said.

Being in the U.S. while the war continues at home has a continual strain on Khrystiuk. She said, “I think it really affected me mentally just being far and trying to play soccer and also study in your second language.” Her approach to constant stress the the last few years is “taking it day-by-day” and practicing gratitude even when she hears updates online about the Russo-Ukrainian war every day.

Khrystiuk is also supported by her Asheville City team, coaches, and fans. In 2022, Ukrainian flags were waved in the audience and chants were echoed specifically for her. After one of her last home games that season, she entered the locker room to find an array of Ukrainian flowers, snacks and other items from home. She stated, “That’s when I realized how much Asheville brings for me and for any other player.”

She is also a member of Ukraine’s National team and describes it as “A dream come true, because I think every girl that plays soccer dreams to play for their national team.”

The Asheville City Soccer Women’s team is preparing for an away game tomorrow against Birmingham Legion Football Club.

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