The karateka did not return to Ukraine from international competitions: how he explained his decision.

The karateka from Chernivtsi, Yevhen Pyliuk, explained why he did not return to Ukraine after international competitions. The athlete clarified that he did not receive a deferral from mobilization and violated an order from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Pyliuk made the statement in a published video.

At the karate tournament in Italy, where Yevhen and his wife Daria went in December, they did not return to Ukraine. The Karate Federation of Ukraine excluded them from the national team, and the athletes are threatened with disqualification.

In his statement, Pyliuk acknowledged his guilt and explained that his main goal was to earn money for his family. He tried to obtain a deferral but was unsuccessful, and he was offered a coaching position. A dispute arose between Pyliuk and his location over this matter, but these claims are not confirmed.

Pyliuk also stated that his wife Daria was unaware of his intention to stay abroad and bears no responsibility.

Besides Pyliuk, other Ukrainians also did not return to Ukraine, including the director of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, Fedir Androschuk, people's deputy Oleksandr Kunitskyi, and coach Ihor Kasyanenko. There is no reliable information about their whereabouts.