Tributes for young Ukrainian footballers and skier killed in Russian onslaught

The dad of one footballer said: ‘It was an airstrike by that damn Putin. He took my child from me (Picture: Facebook/@FIFPRO/Twitter)

Tributes have been paid to three young athletes killed by Russian forces in Ukraine.

Vitalii Sapylo, 21, and Dmytro Martynenko, 25, are said to be the football world’s ‘first reported losses in this war’.

Youth-team footballer Vitalii died defending his country as Kremlin troops launched an onslaught near Kyiv.

He had left Karpaty Lviv, a second division team, to become a tank commander when Vladimir Putin gave the order to invade last Thursday.

For the latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war, visit our live blog: Russia-Ukraine live

His dad Roman Sapilo, 44, told German outlet BILD his son was ‘such a happy, fun-loving boy’.

‘It was an airstrike by that damn Putin. He took my child from me’, he said.

His club has issued a statement saying they ‘would cherish the eternal memory of this hero’.

Dmytro, who was a member of regional club FC Gostomel, died alongside his mum as their flat block near the capital was bombed, The Sun reports.

Vitalii Sapylo, 21, stepped away from football to battle Putin’s troops (Picture: @FIFPRO)

Dmytro Martynenko, 25, was killed alongside his mum (Picture: @FIFPRO)

International football union FIFPRO has remembered both players in a post on social media.

‘Our thoughts are with the families, friends and teammates of young Ukrainian footballers Vitalii Sapylo and Dmytro Martynenko, football’s first reported losses in this war’, officials said. ‘May they both rest in peace.’

It comes after Russia was suspended from all football competitions by FIFA and UEFA.

Promising skier Yevhen Malyshev, 19, was also killed in combat in the first week of fighting.

The young man was part of Ukraine’s junior team but temporarily gave up skiing to join the military two years ago.

The Ukrainian Biathlon Federation confirmed his passing in a statement.

‘We deeply sing to the homeland, to friends and family. Eternal memory by Yevhen Malyshev’, it read.

Yevhen Malyshev, 19, will live in ‘eternal memory’, the Ukrainian Biathlon Federation said (Picture: Facebook)

Above all, the IBU expresses its deepest condolences on the loss of former Ukrainian biathlete Yevhen Malyshev (19), who died this week serving in the Ukrainian military.

The Executive Board once again condemns the Russian attacks on Ukraine and the support provided by Belarus.

— International Biathlon Union (@biathlonworld) March 2, 2022

Many Ukrainian victims sadly remain unnamed but the story of one fourth-grader called Polina caught attention this week.

The schoolgirl died when a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group opened fire on her family car.

Her mum and dad also lost their lives, while her brother is fighting for his life in hospital.

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