Soccer player and assault trooper Yevgen Zadorozhniy was killed in the war
Yevhen Zadorozhniy, a soccer player from the Kyiv region and a soldier in the 5th Separate Assault Brigade, was killed on May 22, 2026, while carrying out a combat mission in the Zaporizhzhia sector. He was 26 years old.
His life revolved around soccer, his studies at a sports university, and his service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where he defended his country.
Yevhen Zadorozhnyi was born on October 6, 1999, in the Kyiv region, in the village of Piskivka, Borodianka District. From childhood, his life was closely tied to soccer, which became not just a hobby but a true part of his character.
During his school years, he joined the amateur soccer club “Rubin,” founded by local sports enthusiasts, and quickly proved himself to be a talented midfielder with a keen sense of the game and quick thinking.
“Yevhen was his parents’ loving and only son. A product of the ‘Rubin’ soccer club, he was a fast and talented midfielder. Soccer was his true passion and an integral part of his life. His love for the game was passed down to him from his great-grandfather Vladimir—a devoted fan with many years of experience, who would fire up the entire stadium with his famous chant: ‘Rubin, come on—they’re already out of steam!’ set the entire stadium ablaze,” wrote Anatoliy Rudnychenko, former head of the Piskivska Territorial Community.
Coaches praised his technique, speed, and ability to read the game, thanks to which Yevhen repeatedly won and placed in city, regional, and national tournaments. He also represented his team at an international youth tournament in Barcelona, where he played confidently against strong opponents and represented his region with dignity.
After high school, he enrolled at the Ivan Franko State University of Zhytomyr, where he studied at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, remaining actively involved in sports and soccer.
With the outbreak of full-scale war, Yevhen joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served as part of the 5th Separate Assault Brigade. He was mobilized and carried out combat missions in the hottest sectors of the front.
On May 22, 2026, Yevhen Zadorozhniy was killed while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Verkhnia Tersa in the Polohivsky District on the Zaporizhzhia front. He was buried in his native village of Piskivka. He is survived by his mother, father, and grandmother. He will forever be 26 years old. May the memory of this Hero—who journeyed from the soccer field to the front lines, remaining loyal to his country until the very end—live on, and may he be eternally honored.
Since the evening of June 19, Russian troops have attacked three districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region more than ten times, using drones and artillery. Civilian communities came under fire, resulting in damage to infrastructure.
Over the past day, Russian attacks on the Sumy region resulted in 13 people being wounded in several communities. The strikes were carried out using guided aerial bombs and drones, with residential areas and civilian vehicles coming under fire.
Over the past day, Russian troops launched strikes on the Donetsk region, killing three people and wounding 13 others. The highest number of casualties was recorded in Kramatorsk.
Over the past day, Russian forces carried out 887 strikes on 47 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region. As a result of attacks on Zaporizhzhia and the Zaporizhzhia district, 19 people were injured.
A Russian airstrike on Kharkiv claimed the life of one person. Her body was found under the rubble of a building in the Kholodnohirskyi district. Meanwhile, the number of injured has risen to nine, including a six-year-old child.
