‘Dedicated to the Angels of Sport’: NOC Ukraine Continues to Honor Athletes Killed in War
The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOC) is carrying forward its initiative titled ‘Dedicated to the Angels of Sport,’ which commemorates athletes who lost their lives in the conflict. As part of this program, commemorative awards are being presented to the families of sports figures whose portraits appear on the ‘Helmet of Memory,’ a piece created by skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych. These tribute ceremonies are held both at the Olympic House in Kyiv and in various regions across Ukraine.
Remembering Athletes Who Died in the War
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In Kharkiv, local officials joined the initiative to honor Dmytro Sharpar—a figure skater who earned a silver medal at the Ukrainian National Championships and competed in the 2016 Youth Olympic Games. Dmytro Sharpar was killed near Bakhmut at the age of 25. His mother received the award from Valerii Dema, head of the NOC’s regional branch in Kharkiv.
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In Sumy region, a ceremony paid tribute to Yevhen Malyshev, a 19-year-old biathlete who took part in the Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne and was a member of Ukraine’s junior national team. Yevhen Malyshev died in combat near Kharkiv. The award was presented to his family by Olena Petrova, head of the NOC’s Sumy regional office.
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In Poltava, officials honored Oleksii Khabarov, a master of sports of international class in shooting sports, who was killed on August 19, 2025, in the Donetsk region. The award was given to Oleksii Khabarov’s relatives by Oleksandr Udovichenko, head of the NOC’s Poltava regional branch.
The NOC of Ukraine is also providing financial aid of 100,000 Ukrainian hryvnias to the families of the deceased athletes. The war has claimed the lives of more than 600 Ukrainian athletes and coaches, making these remembrance efforts a vital step in honoring their legacy.
This NOC Ukraine initiative underscores the importance of remembering athletes who have died as a result of military hostilities and offers meaningful support to their families during difficult times.
By commemorating those who have fallen, the NOC aims to preserve their contributions to Ukrainian sports and remind the public of the war’s tragic toll on the athletic community. These actions also help raise awareness of the situation in the country and highlight the need to stand by athletes during this challenging period.
In addition to the commemorative awards, various events are being organized to honor the memory of fallen athletes. Recently, a kickboxing tournament in Kyiv celebrated the lives of sportsmen who died while defending their country, further emphasizing the deep impact of the ongoing conflict on the sports community in Ukraine.