Dmytro Riznyk Siblings: Remembering Serhii Riznyk

Dmytro Hryhorovych Riznyk is a Ukrainian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian Premier League and the Ukraine national team.

Born on 30 January 1999 in the village of Andriivka in Ukraine’s Poltava region, he stands approximately 1.91 metres tall and developed through the youth system of local club Vorskla Poltava.

He has become one of the most reliable goalkeepers in Ukrainian football, known for his shot-stopping ability, composure under pressure, and contributions both domestically and in European competitions while representing his country during a period of national hardship.

Siblings

Dmytro grew up with an older brother, Serhii Riznyk, who was born in 1989 and was about ten years his senior, as well as a sister whose name and personal details have remained private in public sources.

Serhii played a pivotal parental role in Dmytro’s life after their parents left to work abroad when Dmytro was young.

Dmytro has described his brother as having raised him, serving as both father and mother, teaching him football, supporting his education, and acting as a constant source of guidance and emotional strength.

Serhii volunteered for the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, serving as a junior sergeant and commander in the 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade.

He died on 7 September 2023 near the village of Novoyegorivka in Luhansk Oblast from injuries caused by a mine explosion while defending Ukraine.

Dmytro publicly mourned him with a deeply personal message, calling him a hero and his lifelong rock who raised him and stood by him in good times and bad.

Also Read: Haitam Aleesami Siblings: Getting to Know Ayoub Aleesami

Career

Riznyk began his football journey in the Vorskla Poltava youth academy between 2011 and 2016.

He progressed to the club’s reserve side and was promoted to the senior squad, making his Ukrainian Premier League debut as a starter for Vorskla on 26 October 2019 in a match against Zorya Luhansk.

Over the following seasons he established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper at Vorskla, appearing in dozens of league matches and gaining experience in domestic and European competitions.

In February 2023, Shakhtar Donetsk signed him on a five-year contract.

He quickly became the primary goalkeeper for the club, featuring regularly in the Ukrainian Premier League, Ukrainian Cup, and UEFA competitions including the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

At the international level he represented Ukraine at under-19, under-20, and under-21 levels before earning his first senior call-ups.

He made his senior debut for the Ukraine national team in a friendly against Bulgaria in November 2021 and has continued to earn caps while contributing to the squad’s efforts in competitive fixtures.

Throughout his career he has balanced professional demands with the personal and national challenges of wartime Ukraine, often speaking of football as secondary to family and country yet remaining a consistent presence between the posts.

Accolades

With the Ukraine under-20 national team, Riznyk was part of the squad that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2019, an achievement that also brought him the title of Master of Sports of Ukraine of International Class.

At club level with Vorskla Poltava he reached the Ukrainian Cup final as a runner-up in the 2019–20 season.

After joining Shakhtar Donetsk he contributed to multiple Ukrainian Premier League titles, including the 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2025–26 championships, along with Ukrainian Cup victories in 2023–24 and 2024–25.

He has been recognised within the club for strong individual performances, including fan-voted player of the year honours in certain seasons, and has earned state recognition such as the Order “For Merit” of the third degree.

His consistent clean sheets, penalty saves, and reliability in high-stakes matches have further cemented his reputation as one of Ukraine’s leading goalkeepers of his generation.