Maksym Galinichev, a 22-year-old boxer from Ukraine, has been killed fighting Russian troops.
The talented young athlete had been part of Ukraine’s 25th Sycheslav Airborne Brigade, fighting in the Luhansk region where he tragically lost his life.
As a boxer, Galinichev achieved a lot, winning two gold medals for his country at the European Youth Championships in 2017 and 2018.
Galinichev also brought a silver medal back to Ukraine from the 2018 Youth Olympics in Argentina, where he competed in the under 56kg category.
He could have attended the European Boxing Championships in Armenia last year, but instead chose to fight for his country.
An Ukrainian government advisor, Anton Gerashchenko, broke the news of his death social media, saying: “Maksym Galinichev, 22, European youth boxing champion, died defending Ukraine in Luhansk region.
“Maksym enlisted as a volunteer and came back to the frontlines twice after being wounded and recovering.
“Eternal memory to Hero.”
Team GB Boxing paid tribute to Galinichev on Twitter, as they said: “Everyone at GB Boxing is saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Ukraine’s 22-year-old European Youth champion Maksym Galinichev, whilst serving for his country in the Luhansk region.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Maksym’s friends and family at this devastating time.”
Galinichev is not the only boxer from Ukraine to aid in his country’s defence against Russian invasion, as former heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a reservist in the Territorial Defence Brigade shortly after the war began.
Current unified heavyweight world champion, Oleksandr Usyk, also returned home upon the declaration of war and enlisted with the Kyiv Territorial Defence.
