Fallen Judo Champion Andriy Sirobaba: How War Took the Life of the Athlete

In the battles for Ukraine on October 29, 2025, warrior and athlete Andriy Sirobaba, a machine gunner of the Third Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, originally from Sloviansk, was killed. This was reported by 'Glavkom' with reference to the Sports Committee of Ukraine.

Andriy was 23 years old. He had been involved in sports since childhood. After finishing school, he enrolled in the Donetsk Higher Olympic Reserve School named after Serhiy Bubka. Later, he continued his studies at Donbas State Pedagogical University, completed his bachelor's degree, and enrolled in a master's program.

Sports Achievements

He achieved the title of candidate for master of sport of Ukraine in judo. He was a multiple winner of regional and nationwide competitions.

After the full-scale invasion began, Andriy, along with his family, evacuated to Poltava region, where he met Anastasia, also a displaced person from Donetsk. The couple planned a wedding and had already purchased wedding rings, but the war intervened...

Tragic Death

In June 2025, Andriy voluntarily joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served as a machine gunner in the Third Separate Assault Brigade, performing combat missions on the front lines. The defender's life was cut short on October 29, 2025, near the village of Hrekivka, Svatove district of Luhansk region as a result of an enemy drone drop. Two days before his death, Andriy was wounded but remained in position.

In Memory of Other Fallen Athletes

Let us remind you that on November 15, at the age of 55, the heart of former player of the Ukrainian national football team Andriy Viktorovych Polunin stopped beating. This tragic event occurred after a veterans' match in Lutsk, in which Polunin participated. Andriy Viktorovych was a renowned football player who played for 'Dnipro', 'Kryvbas', 'Karpaty', 'CSKA', and also played in Germany for 'Nuremberg', 'St. Pauli', and 'Rot Weiss'. He had 9 matches and 1 goal for the Ukrainian national team.

Also, titled Ukrainian athlete Vitaliy Rymaruk was killed on the front lines. The 26-year-old discus thrower was a champion of Ukraine among youth and a prizewinner at the adult championships. Just two years ago, Vitaliy was training and competing. He left behind a wife and a small daughter. Vitaliy Rymaruk served as an officer of the 1st combat group of the 4th special forces group (airborne) of the 4th separate special purpose unit in counter-terrorism 'Omega' of the National Guard of Ukraine. The special forces soldier died in the Pokrovsk direction (Donetsk region).

By defending their homeland, Ukrainian athletes not only demonstrate their bravery and patriotism but also give their lives. The tragic deaths of Andriy Sirobaba, Andriy Polunin, and Vitaliy Rymaruk are a great loss for Ukrainian sports. May their eternal memory be with us.