Defending Ukraine from the invaders, Oleksandr Tlatov — a player of the Sokil Rugby Club, a Candidate for Master of Sport of Ukraine, and a native of Lviv — was killed in action. On 26 January 2026, his path as a warrior came to an end at the front. He was 37 years old.
Oleksandr was born on 14 August 1988 in Lviv. While studying at the Ivan Boberskyi Lviv State University of Physical Culture, he specialized in handball and rugby, shaping himself into a versatile and resilient athlete. Rugby became his true element — a tough, full-contact game where everything is decided by strength, speed, a cool head, and unconditional trust in one’s teammate.
To his teammates, he was a reliable pillar, a man it was never frightening to follow forward. To his coaches, he was an athlete to whom the most difficult part of the game could be entrusted. To his friends, he was sincere, open-hearted, and generous in spirit.
With the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Oleksandr did not hesitate to stand in defense of his homeland. He served with the same sense of responsibility with which he once took the field for matches — composed, dignified, and unwavering to the very end. Where the fate of lives was decided, he remained a warrior: resilient, courageous, and unbreakable.
On 26 January 2026, Oleksandr Tlatov was killed in battle, giving his life for the freedom, independence, and future of Ukraine.
On 2 February 2026, Lviv bid farewell to the Hero on his final journey. Oleksandr was laid to rest at the Holoskivskyi Cemetery. This is an immeasurable loss for the sporting community of the Lviv region and for all of Ukraine.
Eternal memory and eternal glory to the Defender.