On the night of May 14, 2026, Ukrainian athlete Yurii Orlov was killed during a Russian attack on Kyiv. The building where he lived with his girlfriend was destroyed after being struck by an enemy missile. Rescue workers recovered their bodies from beneath the rubble. Yurii was only 30…
A man has passed whose life for many years was defined by the game, by team spirit, and by an unwavering commitment to self-improvement. Yurii Orlov was an athlete well known in both ice hockey and floorball. He began his sporting journey on the ice—fast, technically gifted, and possessing a character that was impossible for both teammates and opponents not to notice. From 2015 to 2017, he competed in the Ukrainian championship for the Kyiv teams Generals and Kryzhynka-Kompanion.
Later, Yurii found his way to floorball—and remained devoted to it for many years. As a member of Kyiv Floorball Club, he became team captain and one of its true leaders. He earned the respect of those around him through his discipline, sense of responsibility, and his ability to lead by example through relentless daily work. In the 2022–2023 season, Orlov became the top scorer of the Ukrainian championship.
Sport was not the only part of his life. Working in rehabilitation and massage therapy, Yurii helped people recover from injuries, return to their everyday lives, and move freely without pain once again.
He loved hockey and floorball, but above all he loved the very process of competition, training, and constant growth. To his team, he was a captain; to his friends, someone they could always rely on; to many others, an example of how sport shapes character.
This is an immeasurable loss, one that is difficult to accept. May the memory of Yurii Orlov live on.