A uniform instead of a sports costume. How are Ukrainian athletes fighting on the front?

Undoubtedly, the last winter has turned everyone's life upside down, especially the fate of the civilian inhabitants in Ukraine. Millions of refugees are looking for a safe corner abroad, and thousands of people are defending the country's borders. Military training has become the new "normal" reality in the life of athletes. Many have put their sports clothes on the shelf to wear new uniforms.

Roman and other soldiers are bravely defending the borders. But it's a war — dangerous and unpredictable. On the battlefield, Roman got a shot in his head. Fortunately, the helmet saved his life. Despite these experiences, Roman has found the strength to return to the sport temporarily, only to participate in the World Games. Then he will change his favorite boxing gloves again in favor of an AK-47.

Unfortunately, many athletes died because of Russians. Among them is young kickboxer Nazar Makarenko, who was only 25 years old. Nazar studied at Khmelnytsky National University, worked as an instructor in sports centers, served in the army, and had a small son and wife. He was a candidate for the master of sports, the champion of Ukraine in kickboxing WAKO. Nazar and his father were protecting the territory with active hostilities. Unfortunately, on the battlefield, the athlete was fatally wounded.

Athlete and fighter of the "Azov" battalion, Oleksiy Yanin died in battles with the Russians at the age of 39. He was the world champion in Muay Thai and a multiple Ukrainian kickboxing champion. In 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, he entered the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After a year, he returned home only for a week and joined the "Azov" battalion. He saw the full-scale war in Mariupol. There he died on April 6-7, 2022, leaving his wife Tamara and a son Nazariy.

A rocket attack on a skyscraper in Odessa killed the champion and vice-champion of the southern region in bodybuilding Ludmila Chernetska, as well as her husband Bogdan, who was in the apartment. The couple was expecting a baby.

It's heartbreaking, but the war took the lives of many Ukrainian athletes. The sports committee of Ukraine collected their necrologies in the "Sports Angels" project. Here you can find out more about the lives of athletes before and after the Russian invasion.

Their foundation, Team Ukraine, regularly supports the athletes on the front and their families, providing them with humanitarian and medical supplies, helmets, and bulletproof vests. If you would like, you can help them financially here: https://zrzutka.pl/en/razemdlaukrainy/s/sport

Every dollar counts and contributes to the victory of Ukraine and Europe. Let's help the athletes on the frontline together.

For more Information, please contact: Mateusz Szymakowski (To się uda Foundation) - m.szymakowski@tosieuda.org