Ukrainian boxer Maksym Galinichev was killed fighting for his country at the age of just 22. Reports stated Galinichev, a promising talent, lost his life near Kreminna in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine while serving with the 25th Airborne Brigade.
He had opted to skip the European Boxing Championships in Armenia next month to fight with his nation’s military as they continue to battle against Russia’s advances. Tributes poured in as Ukrainian government adviser Anton Gerashchenko tweeted: “Maksym Galinichev, 22, European youth boxing champion, died defending Ukraine in the Luhansk region.
“Maksym enlisted as a volunteer and came back to the front lines twice after being wounded and recovering.” Former Olympian Vladyslav Heraskevych, from Ukraine, also paid tribute to Mr Galinichev. “Glory to Hero,” he said, while Ukranian tennis star Elena Monfils tweeted some crying emojis in response to the tragedy.
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As a teenager, the boxer secured the gold medal at the European Youth Championship in 2017 and 2018, and also won silver at the Summer Youth Olympic Games five years ago. Galinichev is one of a number of Ukrainian athletes to have died in battle since Russia’s invasion over a year ago.
Ukraine, who are keen to take part in the next Olympic Games, remain strongly opposed to the International Olympic Committee “exploring a pathway” for athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part.
Last month the IOC opened up the possibility of athletes from the nations participating under a neutral flag in Paris. But Ukraine’s Youth and Sport Minister Vadym Gutzeit said in order for that to take place, there must be “serious criteria” to validate the neutrality of any athlete.
“They can’t just say ‘we are for peace’ and that’s it,” said Guttsait. “If the criteria are very weak, then why was Russia suspended last year?
“The situation has only deteriorated. More Ukrainians are being killed and more Ukrainian territory is being occupied. There are air-raid alerts every day and our cities are being bombed and our people are being killed.
“We do not understand at all what was the reason for the IOC to start discussion about the lifting of the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes.”
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