European finswimming champion Dmitry Zakharchuk has passed away while fighting on the frontline for Ukraine against Russia.
The Sports Committee of Ukraine confirmed the sad news that the winner of the continental competition in finswimming and a medalist at the world championships was killed in action in the battle in Kherson.
The committee wrote: “In the battles under Kherson, died Dmitry Zakharchuk - European Champion, prize winner at the world championships in finswimming and Master of Sports International Class.
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“Eternal memory to the hero!”
Kherson is a port city in south Ukraine and had been under the control of Russian forces amid the invasion.
However, as of last week, Kyiv’s forces had retaken territory close to Kherson and were advancing on the city, according to BBC.
Zakharchuk was a graduate of the Youth Sports School ‘Aqualider’ and had claimed many international tournaments in finswimming, according to Perild.
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Finswimming is an underwater sport that features various techniques of using fins either on the surface with a snorkel, or underwater either by holding breath or using scuba diving equipment.
It has been featured as a trend sport at the World Games since 1981.
Zakharchuk was one of the premier Ukrainian athletes in the sport, however, decided to take up arms after the large-scale invasion of Putin’s men.
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Unfortunately, the Sports Committee of Ukraine's Facebook page has transformed to include many news accounts of the deaths of Ukrainian athletes while fighting Russian forces.
The page confirmed that more than 130 Ukrainian athletes have passed while fighting against the invasion of Russia.
Over the weekend, they confirmed that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy had awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the honour of the Golden Star Order to judo and sambo European champion Zelenyuk Vadim Sergeyovich.
Zelenyuk Vadim Sergeyovich died in battle on the outskirts of Avdiivka, according to the Sports Committee of Ukraine.
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ABC News reports that at least 11 people are dead and 64 injured after Russia pounded cities across Ukraine with missile strikes.
Explosions were reported in Kyiv, Lviv, Ternopil, Zhytomyr and Dnipro.
It is believed the strikes were in retaliation to the blast on Russia’s bridge to Crimea.
Jayden Collins