At least 361 Ukrainian athletes killed by Russians: official

At least 361 Ukrainian athletes have been killed since Russia invaded the country in February last year, an official has said.

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Photo: PAP/DPA/augenklick/firo Sportphoto

Gyunduz Mamedov, a former deputy prosecutor-general, said that more than 3,000 athletes and coaches continued to fight for Ukraine.

"The death of the athletes is a heavy loss for Ukraine and its future," he said in a tweet on Monday, as cited by British broadcaster Sky News.

As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at least 361 Ukrainian sportsmen were killed. Over 3,000 athletes & coaches continue to defend Ukraine in the ranks of the AF. The death of the athletes is a heavy loss for Ukraine and its future, which became possible due to the… pic.twitter.com/9WtldehE9w

— Гюндуз Мамедов/Gyunduz Mamedov (@MamedovGyunduz) October 23, 2023

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that many athletes have joined the ranks of the Ukrainian armed forces to defend their country on the battlefield.

Zelensky told the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, last year that more than 100,000 Ukrainian athletes were unable to train after many of the country's sports facilities were destroyed during the war.

"Russia's invasion has become a cruel blow to Ukrainian sports," Zelensky said at the time. "More than 100,000 Ukrainian athletes do not have the opportunity to train today. Many infrastructure facilities have been destroyed."

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Monday is day 607 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: Sky News