“He really wanted to fight. First one tank broke down, then the second. But under no circumstances did he want 💪 to leave the front.”

On Wednesday FIFPRO’s General Secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann spoke to BBC radio about the tragedy.

“The Executive Board once 💪 again condemns the Russian attacks on Ukraine and the support provided by Belarus.”

“I know how to use the gun. If 💪 I’ll have to, I’ll have to. I pretty much hope that I won’t have to use the gun,” Stakhovsky told 💪 BBC Radio 4’s Today program.

Three-weight boxing champion Vasiliy Lomachenko is believed to have joined the fight too. The 34-year-old was 💪 photographed wearing military uniform with a rifle across his shoulder in a post on his Facebook page.