Paris, July 15, 2024 — The Association of Ukrainians in France, with the support of the Ukrainian World Congress, brought together 1,000 people in Paris on Saturday, July 13, for a peaceful march remembering 488 Ukrainian athletes who perished during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Participants wore shirts with the names of the fallen Ukrainian athletes. Leading global media outlets, including AP, ABC News, Independent, ESPN, and many others, covered this event.
The march carried the memory of the fallen athletes to the heart of Paris, from Panthéon Square to Saint-Michel Square, highlighting the daily suffering of Ukrainians due to the war. The event united Ukrainians, French, Georgians, Poles, Lithuanians, and Estonians. Representatives of the Syrian and Iranian pro-Western opposition, who support Ukraine, also attended the rally.
The march culminated with speeches from representatives of the French Republic and prominent leaders of the Ukrainian community in France.
“International support for Ukraine is crucial,” said Volodymyr Kogutyak, UWC Vice President for Western Europe and Vice President of the Association of Ukrainians in France. “It’s heartening to see all these people gathered to pay tribute to our fallen heroes and acknowledge the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people. We reiterate our call for peace and justice that unites us. Honoring the memory of these athletes just days before the start of the Olympic Games in Paris is our way of reminding the world of the cost of Ukraine’s war with Russia. Today, we have received great support and solidarity,” added Volodymyr Kogutyak.
François Béchieau, Deputy Mayor of the 19th arrondissement of Paris and Advisor to the Greater Paris Metropolitan Area, added: “This was a wonderful march. An event to pay tribute to Ukrainian athletes killed by Putin’s Russia, and to condemn the presence of Russian athletes at the Olympic Games in Paris. Their presence contradicts the values of Olympism, peace, brotherhood, and freedom! This march is unequivocal and full support for the Ukrainian people, to provide them with all logistical and military means to win this war. For democracy and freedom in Ukraine and Europe! For the children of Ukraine! For our children!”
These are some of the athletes whose memory was honored with a salute:
- Maksym Halinichev, a boxer who claimed silver at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires and was the 2017 European junior champion, volunteered for the Ukrainian military and tragically fell on the front lines in March 2023 at the young age of 22.
- Ivan Bidniak and Yehor Kihitov, both pistol shooters and members of the Ukrainian national team, have demonstrated exceptional skill in their sport. Ivan Bidniak notably secured a silver medal at the 2013 European Championship in Osijek.
- Stanislav Hulenkov, a 22-year-old judoka, whose body was identified only 10 months after his death.
- Oleksandr Pielieshenko, a weightlifter who represented Ukraine at the Rio Olympics (2016).
- Anastasia Ihnatenko, a coach in acrobatic gymnastics, who was killed during a Russian missile strike on Dnipro, along with her husband and their 18-month-old son.
The march also served as a plea to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Olympic Games. For Putin, the 2024 Olympics represent a stage to showcase his authoritarian and aggressive regime, with many of his athletes either supporting the Russian invasion or actively participating in military operations. In contrast, Ukrainian athletes face the destruction of their sports facilities, major disruptions in their training, and constant threats to their lives due to ongoing bombings. Numerous Ukrainian athletes have had to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend their country, often at the cost of their lives. Implementing sanctions against Russia in all domains, including sports, is vital for exerting pressure to stop Russia’s assault on Ukraine.
