Artem Sachuk, Vice President of the Ukrainian Chess Federation, is reported to have been killed in Ukraine on Sunday. Sachuk would have turned 39 years outdated as we speak and leaves behind a spouse and two youngsters.

The circumstances of his loss of life are but to be confirmed, however in response to the Ukrainian Chess Federation, he “died within the battle of liberation in opposition to the Russian occupiers.” Sachuk joined the millitary shortly after the Russian invasion of his nation.

Sachuk was a candidate grasp and reached a peak FIDE score of 2298. He served as a Vice President of the Ukrainian Chess Federation, and had beforehand headed the Company for Regional Improvement of the Zhytomyr Area, 87 miles (140 kilometers) west of the capital Kyiv. He additionally organized Ukrainian and worldwide chess tournaments.

In a publish on his Fb account in October, Sachuk shared an image from a gathering with the Deputy Minister of Sports activities in Ukraine saying one of many points they mentioned was sanctions in opposition to Arkady Dvorkovich, the present FIDE President and former Russian Deputy Prime Minister.

Chatting with the Ukrainian information outlet Suspilne in 2022, Sachuk mentioned he taught chess to his fellow troopers and used it to offer examples of fight formations.

“Chess is definitely a battle recreation. It’s an imitation of a navy battle and it completely has sensible worth. Many chess gamers are actually defending Ukraine as a part of numerous items, not simply the Armed Forces,” Sachuk mentioned.

In April, Sachuk obtained an award from the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, “for private braveness proven within the protection of state sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and the selfless efficiency of navy responsibility.”

The Ukrainian chess neighborhood is mourning the lack of Sachuk. In a publish on Fb, GM Natalia Zhukova referred to as it “very unhappy information”, sharing photographs of them collectively.

“The ruthless battle continues to remove one of the best and bravest defenders. He had many plans and concepts for the event of chess in Ukraine. This summer time I used to be on trip in Odesa and we have been going to have espresso, however we did not discover the time…”

GM Mikhail Golubev tells Chess.com that Sachuk was a profitable organizer in Zhytomyr, however progressively bought ambitions for one thing on the nationwide degree within the Ukrainian Chess Federation. He shared an image of their assembly from 2018, and wrote:

“Artem Sachuk was the one one within the Ukrainian Chess Federation management who communicated with gamers on urgent points, though he served in a military at battle! There have been disagreements between us, however not scandals or conflicts. A patriot who supported his nation and its chess improvement has handed away. RIP.”

Артём Сачук единственный в руководстве #ФШУ осуществлял коммуникацию с игроками по острым вопросам – хотя служил в воюющей армии! Между нами возникало несогласие, но не скандалы или конфликты. Из жизни ушёл патриот, болевший за страну и развитие шахмат в ней. RIP…☹️Фото 2018 г. pic.twitter.com/qSclEaehf7

— Михаил Голубев 🇺🇦 Михайло Голубєв (@golubev_mikhail) November 27, 2023

Sachuk would have turned 39 years outdated on Monday. He’s survived by his spouse and two youngsters.