Ukrainian kickboxing champion killed during Russian bombardment of Chernobyl

The war in Ukraine following Russia's invasion of the country continues to claim the lives of athletes. Ukrainian kickboxing fighter Yevhen Zvonok, 22, died from Russian bombardments on the city of Chernobyl, one of the most besieged areas in the way of Russian troops towards Kyiv.

The young athlete died on March 3 while serving in his country's military. His trainer, Sergey Lysyuk, reported his death.

"He was just starting with his sports career. Last year he was second in the World Cup of Kickboxing and Ukrainian champion. We were preparing to attend international competitions, and at the end of March, he was to face the Ukrainian championship in Odesa, where we would go with him," his coach said. Zvonkov was runner-up at the last worldwide kickboxing championship and had now enlisted in his country's army to fight against the invading Russian troops.

The kickboxing federation (World Kickboxing Network) condemned in a statement the invasion of Ukraine, following most international sports bodies since the International Olympic Committee called for severe sanctions against Russia.

Esta es la historia del medallista olímpico Stanislav Horuna, quien se enlistó en el ejército ucraniano y solicitó ir al frente de batalla.https://t.co/teAP2VsMNY

— CNN en Español - PR (@CNNEPrensa) March 7, 2022

Similarly, Stanislav Horuna, Ukrainian Olympic karate medalist, also enlisted in the ranks of the army and was asked to be sent to the battlefront in Kyiv, despite having no military experience. In an interview with Ukrainian television, he confessed that he would never have imagined having to defend the homeland with a weapon. After enlisting in the Ukrainian army, he is in his hometown, Lviv, where he is on patrol missions.