Basketball Federation of Ukraine: 17-year-old Ukrainian player Volodymyr Yermakov killed in Germany

Düsseldorf, Germany (Svidomi) — Volodymyr Yermakov, a 17-year-old Ukrainian basketball prodigy, was fatally injured in a violent street assault in Düsseldorf, Germany, as confirmed by the Kyiv Basketball Federation.

Yermakov and his friend Artem Kozachenko played for the ART Giants (U-19) youth team from Düsseldorf.

The Kyiv Basketball Federation claims that the boys were attacked with knives, allegedly because they are Ukrainian.

"The whole team spent the night in hospital with our boys. Unfortunately, doctors were unable to save Yermakov, and Kozachenko is fighting for his life in intensive care," the federation says.

Local police are already investigating the case, and there were witnesses at the scene. No other details are available yet.

Svidomi asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to comment on the events but has not yet received a response.