Defending Ukraine from Russian invaders, Ukrainian athlete and defender Artur Halstian was killed.
He was born on 9 July 1994 in Obukhiv, Kyiv region. After finishing school, he entered the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine. After that, he started working as a fitness coach at a sports centre and also played for the football team of Kozyn village. In addition to football, Arhur was fond of boxing. He trained at the “Kozak” club in Kyiv, won the Kyiv championship among students, and helped young athletes learn boxing skills.
He had so many plans: a wedding, a career, but definitely not war. The full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022 forced him to change everything he had planned. From the first days of the offensive, Artur and his father voluntarily defended Ukraine. They defended the airfield in Vasylkiv, and in May 2023, Arhur was sent to Bakhmut. Due to his activities, he received the call sign ‘Coach’.
During one of his combat missions, he sustained hypothermia to his legs. He did not go to hospital immediately, but later had to. After spending 2 weeks in hospital, he refused further rehabilitation and returned to his comrades. Despite serving on the front line, he never forgot about sports. He always found time for it, and also coached his comrades. On 24 January 2024, 29-year-old Artur Halstian was performing a combat mission near Klishchiyivka, Donetsk region, which unfortunately became his last…