The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) announced that two Ukrainian players were killed in Russia's military operation against Ukraine, while one of the Winter Games players was the first victim on the front line.
The federation said that Vitaly Sapelo and Dmytro Martinenko, aged 21 and 25, respectively, had fallen victim to the Russian bombing.
The Federation mourned the two players on social media, noting that it was the first football loss in this war.
Vitaly Sapelo was a player in the Karpati Lviv youth team, and his club announced his death in a combat battle on the Kyiv front in an attempt to stop the advance of the Russian forces.
Martinenko - who was a player for FC Gostomel - was killed with his family after Russian bombs hit his house during one of the raids.
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.
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— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) March 1, 2022
On Tuesday, the first athlete in the fighting in Ukraine, 19-year-old biathlete, was killed.
Malyshev was serving in the military after he stopped playing winter sports two years ago.
According to Ukrainian media, Malyshev was killed at the front while participating in an attempt to repel an attack by Russian forces.
The Winter Games federation mourned his death, saying, "Champions do not die."
Guerre en Ukraine : l'ex-biathlète ukrainien Yevhen Malyshev décède au combat à 19 ans
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— Le Parisien |
sport (@leparisiensport) March 2, 2022