Ukrainian football professionals die in war: "May both rest in peace"

Created: 03/02/2022Updated: 03/02/2022 08:06

By: Alexander Kaindl

Vitalii Sapylo (left) and Dmytro Martynenko died in the Ukraine war.

© Screenshot Twitter / FIFpro

The Ukraine war keeps the world in suspense.

There are now also confirmed cases of two football professionals who died in the fighting.

Kyiv - The bombs continue to fly, cities are destroyed, people are fighting for their lives - there are new horror stories from Ukraine every day.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his “military operation” on the night of February 24.

Since then the world has been holding its breath.

The war is back in Europe in 2022, hundreds of thousands are currently on the run.

And in Ukraine people are taking up arms - men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country.

They are supposed to defend Ukraine, if necessary with their lives.

Ukraine war: Two Ukrainian soccer players are dead

There are a number of dead now.

This also includes two football professionals, as is now clear from an official report.

The players' union FIFpro confirmed through their channels that Vitalii Sapylo (21) and Dmytro Martynenko (25) paid for their fight for freedom with their lives.

The organization wrote on Twitter: "Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and teammates of young Ukrainian footballers Vitalii Sapylo (21) and Dmytro Martynenko (25), football's first reported losses in this war.

May they both rest in peace.” Our thoughts are with the families, friends and teammates of young Ukrainian footballers Vitalii Sapylo (21) and Dmytro Martynenko (25), football's first reported casualties in this war.

May both of them rest in peace.”

Vitalii Sapylo and Dmytro Martynenko die in the Ukraine war

Goalkeeper Sapylo was "killed in a battle near Kyiv" on Friday, according to his club.

The 21-year-old played for Karpaty Lviv - Borussia Dortmund's Europa League opponents in the 2010/11 season.

The current third division promised the talent an "eternal memory as our hero".

Martynenko was the top scorer in Ukraine's second division last season.

The FC Gostomel goalgetter died in a bomb attack on the outskirts of Kyiv, according to an official statement - he and his mother were in their house when a Russian missile hit.

Both had no chance of survival and died instantly.