The armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine is, unfortunately, claiming hundreds of lives. The world of sports has been directly impacted by this problem and we are not only referring to the sanctions applied to Russians in different disciplines, sadly this Tuesday the death of the Ukrainian athlete Yevhen Malyshev was announced.
Who was Yevhen Malyshev and how did he die?
The Ukrainian Biathlon Federation was the one that spread the news of the death of Yevhen Malyshev, only 19 years old and who was part of the Ukrainian junior national team, but who had stopped competing a few months ago to join the military service, which sadly it cost him his life while carrying out the military operation ordered by Vladimir Putin on Ukrainian territory.
Yevhen Malyshev was a young Ukrainian biathlete who was doing Ukrainian military service at the age of 20. The biathlon federation of the country itself has confirmed the tragedy and has reported that he has died in an attack by Russia
“We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and relatives. May he rest in peace,” says the Federation’s statement in memory of Malyshev, who had participated in at least nine official Biathlon competitions between 2018 and 2022.
Multiple European media took up the information to announce the death of Yevhen Malyshev, however, no one gives accurate details of the cause of death; the only certain thing is that he was part of the militia in land operations.
Ukrainian sportsmen in the army
In recent days there has been news of different ordinary citizens who have decided to join the regular army or local militias to defend their regions against the Russian invasion. Among them, different athletes were registered, several well-known such as the case of Yuriy Vernydub, the 56-year-old coach of Sheriff Tiraspol of Transnistria, the team that gave the surprise against Real Madrid.
One of the most resonant surnames is that of boxer Vasiliy Lomachenko, a former lightweight world champion in three divisions (WBA, WBO, and WBC), who returned to his hometown of Odessa to join the Territorial Defense Battalion. Another world boxing champion of the stature of Oleksandr Usyk, who snatched the heavyweight reign from Britain’s Anthony Joshua recently, decided to join the civil armies of his nation.
Two footballers also die
Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and teammates of young Ukrainian footballers Vitalii Sapylo (21) and Dmytro Martynenko (25), football’s first reported losses in this war.
May they both rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/f6l9oHHRMr
— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) March 1, 2022
Soccer players Vitalii Sapylo and Dmytro Martynenko have also died. As reported on Tuesday by the world players union ( FIFPro ), Vitalii Sapylo and Dmytro Martynenko have died in the Russian offensive in Ukraine. Sapylo, aged 21, belonged to Karpaty Lviv’s youth team, while Dmytro ‘Dima’ Martynenko, at the age of 25, played for FC Gostomel.
El Karpaty announced Sapylo’s death, saying in a statement that his death occurred on Friday, February 25 “near Kiev” in “combat with Russian forces while defending” the Ukrainian capital. “Eternal memory of this hero,” the club wrote about him.
For his part, Martynenko was killed along with his mother after a bombing at their home, the local Kyiv-Sviatoshynskyi federation explained on its Facebook page.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
