In the battles for Ukraine, world karate champion Alexander Semyonyuk lost his life.

This was reported by the Verkhovna Rada, Lutsk City Council, and the Ukrainian Karate Federation.

The federation stated that Alexander was known not only for his achievements in sports but also for his significant contribution to the development of karate in Ukraine.

“His dedication to the sport and his pursuit of excellence inspired many young athletes. The pain of this loss was felt not only by Semenyuk's colleagues and students but by the entire Ukrainian karate community,” the statement said.

“Alexander was not just a warrior. To me, he embodied an entire era of Ukrainian karate — one that I looked up to, competed against, and through which I once believed in myself. His journey was an example for many: a path of honesty, strength, and dignity,” noted the honored coach of Ukraine and founder of the Chernivtsi club “Leader,” Alexander Pikulin.

It is worth mentioning that the website “Angels of Sports” (launched with the support of the Sports Committee of Ukraine) has published information about more than 400 Ukrainian athletes who have died since the onset of the large-scale war. Some of them perished while defending their homeland, while others fell victim to Russian shelling.