Knee Surgery Sidelines Dynamo Star Mykhailenko for Key Matches

Injury Blow for Dynamo Kyiv as Key Midfielder Undergoes Procedure

According to Главком: Mykola Mykhailenko, a midfielder for Dynamo Kyiv, recently underwent surgery on his left knee. As a result, he will miss the team's training camp in Austria and will be unavailable for the second qualifying round of the Europa League. His estimated recovery time is around one month.

Dynamo's 2026/27 season kicks off on July 9 against Romanian side Universitatea Cluj, with the return leg scheduled for July 16. In the previous campaign, Mykhailenko made 35 appearances, scoring two goals and providing two assists. His current contract with the club runs through the summer of 2027.

Preseason Friendlies and Squad Updates

Head coach Ihor Kostyuk has lined up five friendly matches over two weeks during the Austria training camp. The opponents will come from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Austria. A new face in the squad is goalkeeper Illia Olkhovyi, who joined from Ternopil-based Nyva. Several players returning from loan spells will also have a chance to stake their claim: Oleksii Husiev, Navin Malysh, Justin Lonwijk, Vladyslav Herych, Valentyn Rubchynskyi, Roman Salenko, and Angel Torres.

Last season, Dynamo forward Ponomarenko finished as the Premier League's top scorer with 13 goals in 15 matches. The club ended the campaign on a high note by defeating Chernihiv in the 2025/26 Ukrainian Cup final, where midfielder Buyalskyi scored a brace and winger Yarmolenko added the third goal.

Dynamo's preseason friendly schedule in Austria is as follows:

• June 20: Dynamo vs. Slavia
• June 24: Dynamo vs. Žilina
• June 28: Dynamo vs. Wieczysta
• July 2: Dynamo vs. Opponent TBC
• July 3: Dynamo vs. LASK

Dynamo's squad for the Austria training camp includes:

• Goalkeepers: Neshcheret, Olkhovyi, Surkis, Manko.
• Defenders: Popov, Bilovar, Mykhavko, Dubinchak, Vivcharenko, Tiare, Husiev, Zakharchenko, Dykyi, Korobov, Malysh, Tymchyk.
• Midfielders: Brazhko, Buyalskyi, Voloshyn, Herych, Kabayev, Lonwijk, Ogundana, Osypenko, Pikhalyonok, Redushko, Rubchynskyi, Salenko, Torres, Shaparenko, Yarmolenko.
• Forwards: Guerrero, Ponomarenko.

Mykhailenko's absence from the training camp and Europa League qualifiers could significantly impact Dynamo's tactical plans. Given his important role in the team, other players will have an opportunity to step up, potentially shifting the squad's dynamics at the start of the new season. The friendlies in Austria will also serve as a crucial testing ground for the coaching staff to evaluate the readiness of new arrivals and returning loanees.

As Dynamo Kyiv prepares for their crucial preseason matches in Austria, the absence of Mykhailenko due to surgery raises questions about the team's depth and strategy. With the squad undergoing evaluations and welcoming new talent, fans can catch up on the latest updates and player performances in our article about Dynamo's training camp, featuring insights on their new signing and top scorer. Explore the full story here.