In a tragic turn of events, two prominent leaders of the Ukrainian community have died just three days apart in Europe, specifically in Portugal and Spain. According to reports from Elena, the wife of Rodik, the cause of death was heart failure. Rodik suddenly collapsed and died while training on a basketball court.
Vira Zvaan, a colleague of Rodik, expressed on social media that he was “completely healthy, did not consume alcohol, did not smoke, and was actively involved in sports.” As of September 19, Spanish law enforcement and Catalan emergency services had not released an official statement regarding the investigation into Rodik’s death.
Rodik was known as an activist, volunteer, and coordinator of youth and cultural initiatives among Ukrainians.
Meanwhile, in Portugal, local authorities have initiated an investigation into the death of Sadoha, another leader of the Ukrainian community in the country. Sadoha was found dead in a hotel in the Algarve, where he was on a business trip.
The Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Noticias reported that authorities believe Sadoha’s death was due to natural causes. He had a history of heart disease, and police found no evidence of foul play at the scene. Nonetheless, to rule out any third-party involvement in his death, a “full and thorough” autopsy has been conducted, including toxicological tests, with results expected within three weeks to a month.
