Yevhen Maylshev, a 19-year-old former biathlete from Ukraine, was killed in action Tuesday while serving as a member of the country's military in its fight against Russian forces.
The International Biathlon Union issued a statement announcing Maylshev's passing on Wednesday. Maylshev represented the Ukraine national team and Kharkiv junior team before retiring in 2020.
The Ukrainian Biathlon Federation also released a statement, via Spanish sports newspaper Marca, in response to the tragic news, saying in part, "We express our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones. Eternal memory."
Maylshev's passing drew a strong response from the Athletes of Ukraine and Global Athlete; the organizations issued a joint statement Wednesday condemning the International Paralympic Committee for allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games under a neutral flag.