Ukraine has lost one of its finest sons — an athlete and a warrior, world kickboxing champion, Senior Lieutenant of the Security Service of Ukraine Denys Furtas, call sign “Fura.” He was only 23 years old. On September 5, 2025, he fell in battle in the Kharkiv region.
Denys was born on August 3, 2002, in Kharkiv. From early childhood, his life was inseparably bound with sports. Within the walls of Kharkiv Youth Sports School No. 6, under the guidance of coach Dmytro Konstantinov, he learned discipline, strength of spirit, and the meaning of victory.
His talent revealed itself swiftly: he became a Master of Sports of Ukraine in kickboxing, a world champion in French boxing Savate and kickboxing among both juniors and adults, and repeatedly claimed prizes at European and World Championships. In the ring, he embodied courage and resilience. His victories brought pride to his native Kharkiv and to the entire nation.
But athletic triumphs were not enough for him. Having earned recognition in sports, Denys chose the path of defending his country. From 2020 to 2024 he studied at the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, and later became an officer of the Security Service of Ukraine, attaining the rank of Senior Lieutenant. His service in a special forces unit became a continuation of his sporting career: the same self-discipline, determination, and unwavering drive to be first and never retreat.
Fate granted the Hero far too short a life. On September 5, 2025, during a combat mission in Kupiansk, Kharkiv region, Denys’s life was cut short. Until his last breath, he remained faithful to his oath and to his guiding principle — to fight until the very end.
His death brought immeasurable grief to his family, friends, comrades-in-arms, the sports community, and to all of Ukraine. He should have had many more years to bring victories both in the ring and in life, but instead he received the highest honor — immortality in the memory of his people.
A deep bow to the Warrior. Eternal memory.