A Ukrainian world karate champion was killed on the frontline

A Ukrainian world karate champion was killed on the frontline

World contact karate champion Oleh Novikov was killed in the war against Russian invaders. Born in the Luhansk region, who lived in Irpin for over 30 years, he was killed in battle on November 1, 2024, near the village of Preobrazhenka in the Zaporizhzhya region.

Novikov won his main title at the age of 22, achieving the rank of master of sports of international class. After studying at the State Tax University, he worked in the tax police department in Kyiv and simultaneously trained athletes.

In the years before the full-scale invasion, Oleh taught kickboxing and raised Ukrainian champions.

"If not me, then who?" – with these words, Oleh Novikov stood to defend his Motherland in April 2022. He fought in the Sumy, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhya directions," – stated in the obituary of the Sports Committee of Ukraine.

Oleh Viktorovych was buried in Irpin on the Alley of Glory.