Russian MMA fighter Vladimir Mineev has been forced to sign up to join Russian military in Ukraine despite his brother being killed in the conflict.
Mineev is primarily known for his fighting exploits in Russian promotion Fight Nights, which sees him ranked as the No.4 ranked middleweight in the country. Seven months ago it was revealed that his brother Pyotr, who was already drafted to join the Ukraine war effort, had been killed in action while fighting in the Eastern European country.
He confirmed the news on social media: “Friends, the world has fallen and turned upside down, and life has changed dramatically, but does not stop,” wrote the champion from Yekaterinburg. “For all known reasons, I suspend blogging on META networks. I will keep in touch on Telegram. There are links to accounts in stories.”
Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a conscription call-up that will see a further 300,000 civilians drafted into military service, and a fresh report has revealed that Mineev will now be required to join the war in Ukraine. He received the call-up from a military enlistment office in Russia, which will see him no longer able to defend his AMC middleweight title as an MMA star.
He did not hesitate to accept the call to duty and addressed it during an interview with Russian website Championat. "I won't run. I accept the subpoena and go to the registry office and military enlistment, and there, as the Fatherland decides (I will)."
Mineev originates from Dagestan, where several UFC fighters originate from including Mohammad Mokaev and Magomed Mustafaev who have both joined protests against conscription in the region.
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He carries a superb fighting record, which he will leave behind for now, which includes 16 victories with one defeat, and it remains to be seen if he will be forced to vacate his title belt. Mineev will not be the first fighter to become involved in the war which includes boxing world champions Vasyl Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk.
The Ukrainian pair were both pictured in military uniform, including Usyk who was pictured taking up arms against the invasion before returning to training for his rematch win over Anthony Joshua. Boxing legends Wladimir and Vitalki Klitschko have also been spotted defending their country from Russian invasion, in particular Vitali in the capital Kyiv as a result of his role as mayor.
