Ukrainian kids play soccer again in bombed-out stadium

Young players of the Olymp football club attend a training session at the Central stadium in the Irpin town, which was heavily damaged during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, outside of Kyiv, Ukraine July 6, 2022. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

IRPIN, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukrainian children have started playing soccer again in a bombed-out stadium outside Kyiv, a much-needed distraction after more than four months of war.

The Champion stadium was heavily damaged in the weeks that followed Russia's invasion, when Russian forces reached the outskirts of Ukraine's capital and occupied parts of the city of Irpin.