Aleksei Bugayev in action at Euro 2004. (Image: Getty)
Aleksei Bugayev, a former professional footballer who earned seven caps for the Russian national team, has been killed while fighting in the war in . Bugayev’s father and agent have confirmed his death while battling in the 34-month-old war between and after signing up to join ‘s army.
“Unfortunately, the news about Aleksei’s death is true. It happened today,” Ivan Bugayev, his father, told Sport24, according to TASS.
RIA reported that agent Anton Smirnov stated that the intense fighting in the area had made it impossible to retrieve Bugayev’s body for burial.
In September, the 43-year-old was handed a nine-and-a-half-year jail sentence for drug trafficking by a court in southern .
But Putin is believed to have lost tens of thousands of soldiers since triggering the war and has reportedly been recruiting new troops in prisons to restore his ranks.
Ukrainian leader claims the nation has claimed almost 200,000 Russian lives during the bloodshed, with another 550,000 wounded.
Bugayev retired from football in 2010 at the age of 29 after spells at Torpedo Moscow, Tom Tomsk, Lokomotiv Moscow, Khimki and Krasnodar.
He made seven appearances for the Russian national team, including two at Euro 2004.
Aleksei Bugayev played twice at Euro 2004. (Image: Getty)
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