Defending his homeland against the invading forces, soldier and athlete Mykhailo Malkush, an International Master of Sport in powerlifting, was killed in action in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
He was born in Volyn on September 13, 1996. He graduated from the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and worked as a software engineer.
From an early age, Mykhailo was passionate about powerlifting and achieved remarkable success in the sport. Representing Lutsk on the international stage, he trained under the guidance of the experienced coach Oleh Khomiak.
In 2018, Mykhailo Malkush became the European champion in the under-59 kg weight category, setting a European junior record. He was also a medalist at the World Junior Championships and claimed victories at numerous other international and national competitions. During the Ukrainian Cup in Kolomyia, he set a national record in the bench press by lifting 190 kilograms.
Mykhailo took up arms to defend his country immediately after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He served as a Senior Soldier in the Azov Brigade. He was killed in action near the city of Pokrovsk in Ukraine’s Donetsk region on October 30, 2025.
He was laid to rest in the military burial section of the Lutsk City Cemetery.
Eternal memory.