Four-time world kickboxing champion Ukrainian Vitaly Merinov killed on the battlefield

Vitaly Merinov, a four-time world kickboxing champion, died in hospital after being wounded on the battlefield, Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor Ruslan Martsynkiv reported on Facebook.

“An irreparable loss for the Ivano-Frankivsk community. Vitaliy Merinov died in hospital this night, succumbing to injuries he had suffered in the battle,” wrote Martsynkiv.

On the very first day of the full-scale invasion, Merinov deployed to defend his country. He was wounded in the leg, and after recovery, he returned to the front to keep defending Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

Source