Russian world powerlifting champion falls on battlefield shot down by Ukrainian troops

Konstantin Breus, a former world powerlifting champion, was killed while fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian media outlet Glavkom.

Breus, who earned his world title in 2012 during a competition in the Netherlands, had been missing in action for approximately six months. His body was identified in early April.

Russian powerlifter and bodybuilder killed in action

In addition to his achievements in powerlifting, Breus was also known as a bodybuilder and had taken on minor acting roles in Russian television series. He reportedly volunteered to join the Russian military effort in Ukraine. His funeral was set to take place on May 10.

Other Russian athletes killed in combat

Breus’s death is among several recent losses of Russian athletes who joined the military campaign in Ukraine. Sergei Olenyev, an amateur footballer from Omsk who played in the local mini-football league, was also killed in combat. His funeral took place on May 7.

Another casualty includes Oleksii Yablonskyi, a footballer and futsal player from Crimea. Yablonskyi had continued his sports career in the Russian-occupied peninsula after its annexation in 2014. He was killed while serving in the Russian military and is survived by his wife and two children.

The deaths of these athletes underscore the ongoing human toll of the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. As of May 2025, the war has entered its fourth year, with significant casualties on both sides and ongoing military engagements across various fronts.

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