Sports
Ukrainian kickboxing world champion killed in action in Mariupol
Ukrainian fighter Maksym Kagal was in Mariupol, one of the cities besieged by the Russian army for several weeks
March 29, 2022 1:19pm
Updated: March 30, 2022 8:39am
The Russian massacre continues in Ukraine, where the invasion has already claimed thousands of victims. One of the latest victims was kickboxing world champion Maksym Kagal, who was killed in Mariupol where he was fighting as part of the Ukrainian resistance to defend the city. The sports world is mourning the death of the fighter.
The 30-year-old was fighting Russian troops in an attempt to defend Mariupol, which has seen some of the fiercest fighting since the invasion began in late February. The athlete took up arms to join the famous Azov Battalion special forces unit to hold off the Russian army.
⚡️ Ukrainian kickboxing champion killed in combat while defending Mariupol.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 27, 2022
Maksym Kagal, ISKA kickboxing champion, was killed in the battle for the besieged city Mariupol, his coach reported.
"Unfortunately, war gets the best. Defending the city of Mariupol, as part of the Azov Squadron, they killed Maxim 'Piston' Kagal, the first world kickboxing champion in our club. The first world kickboxing champion in our glorious city of Kremenchutsi. And the first ISKA kickboxing world champion, among adults, as a member of the Ukrainian national team. An honest and decent man. Rest in peace brother," wrote his coach, Oleh Skyrta, on his social media.
Kagal's death cut short another brilliant sporting career. He was killed for defending his country, the athlete still had years of joy in kickboxing, added his coach. Skyrta defined his pupil as "an honest and decent man.” In his farewell, he asked for revenge: "Rest assured, brother, we will avenge your loss!”
"Piston" lakabıyla bilinen Ukraynalı profesyonel dövüşçü, kick boks dünya şampiyonu ve Azov Taburu üyesi Maksim Kagal, Mariupol'da girdiği çatışmalar sırasında Rus güçleri tarafından öldürüldü
— Odatv (@odatv) March 28, 2022
Like him, other sportsmen have already died during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including soccer players Vitalii Sapylo and Dmytro Martynenko, as well as biathlete Yevhen Malyshev and 11-year-old gymnast Katya Dyachenko.
