Maksym Galinichev — a European boxing champ and Youth Olympic medalist — was tragically killed whereas defending Ukraine towards Russian troops. He was solely 22.
Galinichev was with the twenty fifth Separate Airborne Sicheslav Brigade (a part of Ukraine’s Air Assault Force) when he was killed on March 10 … Anton Gerashchenko, advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, introduced on Twitter, saying Galinichev was defending Ukraine in Luhansk area.
“Maksym enlisted as a volunteer and came back to the frontlines twice after being wounded and recovering,” Geraschenko stated.
“Eternal memory to Hero.”
The Ukrainian boxer began his profession when he was simply 10 — successful two gold medals on the European Youth Championship and the silver medal on the 2018 Youth Olympics in Argentina.
He might’ve participated within the European Boxing Championships in Armenia final yr however refused so he might be a part of Ukrainian forces.
Tributes from followers and athletes have been flooding social media since his demise, together with from Vladyslav Heraskevych, the first-ever skeleton racer from Ukraine, who praised Galinichev for defending his nation.
“Glory to Hero 😢”
This is not the primary time a boxer put down their gloves to defend their nation … boxing stars Oleksandr Usyk and Vasyl Lomachenko additionally joined the Russia-Ukraine battle final yr.