World's water polo community rallies following death of former Ukrainian Water Polo Team captain Eugine Obendinskiy

The international water polo community is coming together to mark and take action following the death of former Ukrainian Water Polo Team captain Eugine Obendinskiy who was killed in bombing by Russian forces in the beleaguered city of Maripol last month.

News outlets and the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation reported that Obedinskiy, aged 39, was recently killed in a bomb attack by Russian invaders on 17th March in the Southern Ukrainian city.

Well known in the international water polo community, Obendinskiy was a multiple-time champion with his professional club team Illichivets.

With Mariupol having been the site of some of the most intense fighting and destruction during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Obedinsky isn’t the first athlete to have been confirmed dead during the Russian-Ukrainian War with boxing champion Maksym Kagal also killed in the city.

Obedinsky, 12-year-old daughter Kira is reportedly now an orphan, as her mother died when she was a baby.

After an initial period of uncertainty about her location, according to Pavel Kirilenko, the Head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, Kira is now reportedly safe in Russian-occupied Donetsk.

Alexander Obedinsky, Kira’s grandfather and Eugene’s father, is ready to take his granddaughter into custody.

Confirming his son’s death, Obedinsky stated “my son died in Mariupol on March 17, 2022. He is a bright and kind man, father of three children. He was a sensitive son, brother, father, friend, great athlete.”

Following Eugine Obendinskiy’s death members of the international water polo community, including Anton Kajlich of Anti Wave International, are aiming to undertake fundraising to help Kira in her future life.

For more information contact Anti Kajlich on email: anti@anti.to