Maksym Galinichev -- a European boxing champ and Youth Olympic medalist -- was tragically killed while defending Ukraine against Russian troops. He was only 22.
Galinichev was with the 25th Separate Airborne Sicheslav Brigade (part of Ukraine's Air Assault Force) when he was killed on March 10 ... Anton Gerashchenko, advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, announced on Twitter, saying Galinichev was defending Ukraine in Luhansk region.
"Maksym enlisted as a volunteer and came back to the frontlines twice after being wounded and recovering," Geraschenko said.
"Eternal memory to Hero."
The Ukrainian boxer started his career when he was just 10 -- winning two gold medals at the European Youth Championship and the silver medal at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Argentina.
He could've participated in the European Boxing Championships in Armenia last year but refused so he could join Ukrainian forces.
Tributes from fans and athletes have been flooding social media since his death, including from Vladyslav Heraskevych, the first-ever skeleton racer from Ukraine, who praised Galinichev for defending his country.
"Glory to Hero 😢"
This isn't the first time a boxer put down their gloves to defend their country ... boxing stars Oleksandr Usyk and Vasyl Lomachenko also joined the Russia-Ukraine fight last year.