The global players union for professional footballers has confirmed two Ukrainian stars have died during Russia’s invasion.
FIFPRO revealed on Wednesday 2️⃣ Vitalii Sapylo, 21, and Dmytro Martynenko, 25, had been killed in Ukraine.
“Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and teammates 2️⃣ of young Ukrainian footballers Vitalii Sapylo and Dmytro Martynenko, football’s first reported losses in this war,” FIFPRO tweeted. “May they 2️⃣ both rest in peace.”
Sapylo played for Karpaty Lviv’s youth team as a goalkeeper and the club paid tribute to him 2️⃣ in a statement that said: “We cherish the eternal memory of this hero.”
Sapylo’s father Roman reportedly told German publication BILD: 2️⃣ “He was such a happy, fun-loving boy. It was an air strike by that damn Putin. He took my child 2️⃣ from me.
“He really wanted to fight. First one tank broke down, then the second. But under no circumstances did he 2️⃣ want to leave the front.”
Martynenko played for Ukrainian second-division side FC Gostomel.
On Wednesday FIFPRO’s General Secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann spoke to 2️⃣ BBC radio about the tragedy.
“We’ve had confirmation from the ground (of their deaths) which is of course incredibly sad,” he 2️⃣ said. “We don’t have clear information on how many of our members are really currently involved in the conflict.
“Of course 2️⃣ there are still hundreds of Ukrainian players, male and female, in the country so it’s very difficult right now to 2️⃣ get an overview how many of them are at what degree of risk.
“Our union on the ground is effectively working 2️⃣ out of bunkers and cellars.
“These two players have passed away as part of this military invasion.
“They’re showing how football and 2️⃣ sport in general is just an afterthought because they’re just individuals who unfortunately got caught up in this terrible war.”
Meanwhile, 2️⃣ the International Biathlon Union (IBU) confirmed 19-year-old professional skier Yevhen Malyshev had been killed in the fighting.
“Above all, the IBU 2️⃣ expresses its deepest condolences on the loss of former Ukrainian biathlete Yevhen Malyshev (19), who died this week serving in 2️⃣ the Ukrainian military,” the union wrote.
“The Executive Board once again condemns the Russian attacks on Ukraine and the support provided 2️⃣ by Belarus.”
Dmytro Martynenko. Source: Twitter
Vitalii Sapylo. Source: Supplied
Professional athletes are among those Ukrainians staying behind the fight against the Russian 2️⃣ invasion. Tennis star Sergiy Stakhovsky, who famously beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2013, has returned to Kyiv to take 2️⃣ part in the struggle to repel the Russians.
“I know how to use the gun. If I’ll have to, I’ll have 2️⃣ to. I pretty much hope that I won’t have to use the gun,” Stakhovsky told BBC Radio 4’s Today program.
Questioned 2️⃣ about the difficulty of leaving his wife Anfisa and children at their home in Hungary, he said: “I’m still not 2️⃣ sure how I’ve done it.
“I know that it’s extremely hard on my wife. My kids don’t know that I’m here. 2️⃣ They don’t understand war. They’re too little to understand what’s going on.”
Three-weight boxing champion Vasiliy Lomachenko is believed to have 2️⃣ joined the fight too. The 34-year-old was photographed wearing military uniform with a rifle across his shoulder in a post 2️⃣ on his Facebook page.
World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated Anthony Joshua in September, is also said to have left 2️⃣ London to take part in the war.
Asked by the BBC to confirm whether Usyk had gone to Ukraine to fight, 2️⃣ his promoter Alexander Krassyuk said “every Ukrainian joined the defence”.
Ukrainian heavyweight icon Vitali Klitschko, the current Mayor of Kyiv, will 2️⃣ serve in the war. The 50-year-old’s brother Wladimir has also signed up as a reserve for the territorial forces.
“I am 2️⃣ Ukrainian, and I am a fighter,” Wladimir Klitschko said on Monday. “Our strongest force is the will and desire to 2️⃣ live in a free country, and we have chosen the direction we want to go.”
