One of Ukraine's leading ballet dancers has died after being injured in a shelling attack on Kyiv.
Artyom Datsishin died aged 43 earlier this week after succumbing to injuries he sustained in the early days of the invasion.
The internationally acclaimed ballet dancer had spent almost three weeks in a hospital in the capital, with his funeral held in Kyiv today, March 18.
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'On February 26, he was fired upon by the Russian military. He was seriously wounded and died in the hospital,' his Tatiana Borovik friend said, confirming the news of his passing.
She wrote on Facebook: 'Farewell my dear man!! I can't express my heartache that is overwhelming me! May your memory be bright.'
A principal dancer with the National Opera of Ukraine, Datsishin had performed across the world over the course of his career, dancing lead roles in classic ballets including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and Romeo and Juliet.
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His talent saw him win critical acclaim for his 'academic expressiveness, romantic elation and psychological depth,' and culminated in him being awarded the honorary Merited Artist of Ukraine title - an award presented to Ukrainians for 'outstanding achievement in the performing arts' - in recognition of his efforts to promote Ukrainian culture both at home and abroad.
News of Datsishin's death has been met with tributes from across the world of ballet, with many expressing anger at the senseless tragedy resulting from Russia's shelling of civilian areas.
Among those to speak out was famed Russian choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, who as the former artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet remains one of Moscow's most prominent cultural figures.
In a statement, Ratmansky shared his outrage at Datsishin's death, writing on Instagram: 'A principal dancer with National Opera of Ukraine died today in the Kyiv hospital from wounds received on February 26 when he got under Russian artillery fire.
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'He was a beautiful dancer loved by his colleagues. Unbearable pain.'
Ratmansky currently resides in the United States and has been outspoken in his support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion.
Datsishin is one of a number of high profile Ukrainians to have been killed as a result of the Russian invasion, with rising acting star Pasha Lee also having died after coming under fire from Russian forces while helping to evacuate civilians outside of Kyiv.
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Topics: Ukraine, Russia, World News