According to the International Biathlon Union, a 19-year-old Ukrainian biathlete was killed while serving in the Ukrainian military.
In a joint statement, the Athletes of Ukraine and Global Athlete said Yevhen Maylshev was killed Tuesday after taking up arms to protect his motherland against the Russian invasion.
Malyshev’s death is unknown, but the International Biathlon Union claimed on Wednesday that he “died this week while serving in the Ukrainian military.”
Because of their countries’ actions in the war against Ukraine, Russians and Belarusians will compete as “neutral competitors” at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing, according to the International Paralympic Committee.
As punishment for the state-sponsored doping scandal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics with the accompanying cover-up, Russian competitors were already scheduled to compete as RPC.
Many Ukrainian athletes have joined the fight to save their motherland, including Maylshev.