World kickboxing champion Serhii Lysiuk killed in action

Serhii Lysiuk, world kickboxing champion and Honoured Master of Sports of Ukraine, has died of injuries he sustained fighting at the front. On 12 November 2023, a mine blew up as the sportsman was performing a combat mission in one of the hottest spots in Donbas, the Youth and Sports Committee reports. Serhii's leg was amputated, but it was not possible to save his life.

For about ten days, doctors from Dnipro battled to save the champion kickboxer and defender, but his injuries turned out to be too severe.

Serhii Lysiuk was a many-times European and world champion. He also worked as an instructor at the Department of Physical Training of the State Penitentiary Service Academy. The deceased had a wife and son.

Olena Bibik, Serhii's wife, wrote on Facebook: "You always smiled in response to any difficulties and laughed in the face of danger; you were always honest, fair and very humble. You were my husband, friend, brother, and my life! Maybe someone needs to protect Heaven, too, otherwise they wouldn't take you away from us.

I don't want to believe that I'll never see your smile again. I promised not to cry, and I won't. I will pray and kiss our son, as you always asked.

It's a pity that God didn't save the one who was defending the Motherland."