Went to war on first day of invasion: world kickboxing champion, MP Vitaliy Merinov dies in hospital

This was reported by the mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk Ruslan Martsinkiv, Espreso reports.

"An irreparable loss for the Ivano-Frankivsk community. At night, Vitaliy Merinov died in hospital from injuries he got in the battle. Vitaliy was a member of the executive committee of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council. He was also a deputy of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council of the previous convocation," Martsinkiv wrote.

According to him, Vitaliy Merinov, a four-time world kickboxing champion, Ukrainian champion in unifight, and master of sports in boxing, went to war on the first day of the full-scale invasion.

"During one of the battles, Vitaliy received a gunshot shrapnel wound to his leg. He recovered and returned to the front and defended Ukraine until his last breath. Our sincere condolences to the family and friends. Eternal memory to the Hero!" the mayor added.

See also: Heroes of Ukraine: National Guard Vitaliy Merinov - from boxing coach to experienced defender

The Hero leaves behind a wife and a two-year-old daughter.

• The famous Ukrainian climber Orest Kinash also died in the war with the Russian occupiers.

• In addition, researcher and intellectual Yevhen Hulevych was killed near Bakhmut. He was previously considered missing.