Euros star killed in Ukraine fighting for Russia after signing up to war to escape drugs conviction
A former European Championship player has been killed in Ukraine after signing up to fight for Russia, his father has stated.
Ex-Russia defender Aleksei Bugayev, 43, made two appearances for his country at Euro 2004, which was held in Portugal.
He played 90 minutes in the 2-1 victory over eventual winners Greece, though Georgi Yartsev's side finished bottom of their group and were eliminated from the competition.
Bugayev would later feature in Russia's 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign but they were unable to reach the tournament proper under new boss Yury Syomin.
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The defender played his last international match in 2005 and ended his career in 2010, having received four caps for his country.
In September, he was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison for attempted drug trafficking, having been arrested by Russian authorities in Krasnodar.
Bugayev later declared his intention to join the Russian army to fight in the Russo-Ukraine war, with Russian authorities recruiting in prisons.
On Sunday, his father Ivan told the Sport24 news outlet that his son had been killed in Ukraine.
He said: "Unfortunately, the news about Aleksei's death is true. It happened today."
The former player's agent, as quoted by the RIA news agency (via Reuters), added that Bugayev's body could not be retrieved for burial due to the intense fighting.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
On a sporting scale, the country has received severe consequences, with Russia banned from competing in any UEFA or FIFA-sanctioned football event.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus (who supported Russia in their invasion) in other sports, such as Formula 1 and athletics, must compete under a neutral flag.
Russia and Belarus are also banned from competing in the Olympics or Paralympics, though select athletes - such as tennis star Daniil Medvedev and trampoline silver medallist Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya - were invited to compete as an Individual Neutral Athlete at Paris 2024.
Ryan Smart