Two former Ukrainian athletes have lost their lives during the war against Russia in Ukraine in recent weeks.

Oleksi Tsibko, former captain of the Ukrainian rugby team, died at the age of 55 last Thursday (31) while fighting Russian forces in the city of Bucha. The death was confirmed by the Ukrainian Rugby Federation.

Octavian Morariu, president of Rugby Europe, the governing body of sport in Europe, and member of the International Olympic Committee, greeted Tsibko respectfully.

“Although I hoped that this news would not be confirmed, I can sadly now say with regret that Oleksi Tsibko, the former captain of the Ukraine national team, the former president of the Ukrainian Rugby Union and also the mayor of Smela, died while defending his city and country,” he shared on social media. .

Former captain of the Ukrainian water polo team, Yevhen Obedinsky, died in a shootout at the age of 39 in Mauripol in the second half of March. The information was published by father Oleksandr Obedinsky.