Initially, FC Shakhtar Shakhtarsk was created in 1984 at the State Production Association "Shakhtarskantratsyt" out of local miners' football teams of Vinnitska Mine and Postnykivska Mine. Until 1989, it competed at regional competitions, and then after changing its name to Prometei, it entered the Ukrainian amateur competitions where competed until 1991. In 1992 the club was admitted to the Ukrainian Transitional League (third division) from which it was relegated after the first season. In 1992–93 Prometei even though placing sixth gained a promotion to the Second League after
FC Antratsyt Kirovske withdrew from competitions. In 1994, the club changed its name to
Medita Shakhtarsk after its main sponsor, "Medita" (a local private clinic). In 1995 the club changed its name again to Shakhtar after it was returned under the sponsorship of the Shakhtarskantratsyt.
Reorganization In 1996, based on the senior squad of Shakhtar there was created new club
Metalurh Donetsk which became based in
Donetsk. The youth squad of Shakhtar Shakhtarsk joined the youth academy of
Shakhtar Donetsk, while other players who were not suited for the club formed new team
FC Fortuna Shakhtarsk and until 1999 were playing in Kontarne, a suburban
urban-type settlement of Shakhtarsk.
Amateur era In 2000, Fortuna competed in Ukrainian amateur competitions. Next year the club changed its name again to
FC Avanhard Shakhtarsk under which it competed until 2011. From 2012, the team competes under the name
Ajax. ==Honours==