Famous Ukrainian athlete killed at the front near Toretsk

Ukrainian serviceman Maksym Petrenko was killed in action in the Donetsk region. He was seriously wounded while performing a mission near Toretsk.

Petrenko was killed by mortar fire, 4sport.ua reports.

Famous Ukrainian athlete Maksym Petrenko became a victim of Russian aggression in Donetsk region. The brigade in which the former world climbing championship medalist served was carrying out a combat mission near Toretsk. Ukrainian soldiers came under mortar fire. The former athlete received injuries that turned out to be incompatible with life.

He was 46 years old.

What Petrenko is known for

Maksym was born in Luhansk, which he left in 2014. He voluntarily joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2024.

Petrenko was a gold medalist at the 1996 and 1997 World Youth Climbing Championships and earned prizes at the Youth European Cup.

At the senior level, the athlete won a bronze medal at the World Cup in 1999. He remains the only Ukrainian to receive a medal at senior World Climbing Championships in the "lead" discipline.

Petrenko participated in numerous tournaments both in Ukraine and abroad and was well-known among fans of the sport.

As a reminder, a former Ukrainian MMA champion tragically died on the front lines recently.

Additionally, a renowned Ukrainian weightlifter sacrificed her life in the fight against Russian occupiers.