Ukrainian defense forces killed Russian soldier Oleksandr Galats, according to Glavkom.
49-year-old Alexander Galats had been fighting in the war against Ukraine since it began in 2022. His wife, Ksenia, said that he had planned to retire in July 2026; he was an officer in the Russian army and served as the head of the engineering corps. He was also a candidate for the title of Master of Sports in kickboxing.
Galats had been missing since October 2025, and in February 2026, news of his death emerged. He was buried on March 1, 2026, in Volgograd. He is survived by five children.
Athletes Support Propaganda
As a reminder, Russian speed skater Alexandra Sayutina, recognized as a neutral athlete, was present at Vladimir Putin’s annual address to the Federal Assembly on February 29, 2024.
Another Russian athlete, skier Veronika Stepanova, posted a photo from the event on Instagram, as well as a video broadcast featuring Sayutina and other Russian servicemen who participated in the war against Ukraine. This constitutes a violation of the IOC’s recommendations regarding neutral athletes.
