25-year-old Yevhen Pylypyuk decided to stay abroad to avoid mobilization.
Karateka from Chernivtsi Yevhen Pylypyuk did not return to Ukraine after the international tournament in Venice, Italy.
Tribuna.com reports this.
The 25-year-old athlete left for the competition at the end of December 2024 together with his 18-year-old his wife, also a karateka, Daria Pilipyuk.
Due to failure to return to their homeland, the Ukrainian Karate Federation excluded the Pilipyuk couple from the national team. In addition, a lifetime disqualification from the World Karate Federation was initiated and a petition was filed to strip them of all sports awards.
Later it turned out that Daria Pilipyuk returned to Chernivtsi. She stated that she considered it unfair to exclude her from the national team and to strip her of her awards.
Evgeniy Pilipyuk commented on the scandalous situation by recording a video. He admitted his guilt, but noted the innocence of his wife: “I understand that I did wrong, there is no justification for my actions, they are not worthy of Ukrainian society and our soldiers.”
Evgeniy explained his actions by the fact that he did not receive a deferment from mobilization. According to him, the president of the Chernivtsi Karate Federation, Alexander Pikulin, offered him the opportunity to enter graduate school for 4 thousand dollars. But he failed to do so. Then Pikulin allegedly offered Pilipyuk a position as a coach at the Youth Sports School. But the athlete did not receive a deferment there either. That is why I went abroad and did not return, violating the terms of the order of the Ministry of Sports.
“But my wife did not violate any legislation. She is not subject to military service. She did not sign any documents about returning to Ukraine after the end of the competition. We traveled to all tournaments at our own expense.
She did not know that I intended to leave and stay abroad. She cannot be held responsible for my actions, which I committed personally,” said Pilipyuk.
Earlier it was reported that Ukrainian rower Larisa Zhalinska, who served in the National Guard, fled to Russia.