MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. Russian MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter Vladimir Mineev has arrived in the zone of Russia’s ongoing special military operation in Ukraine, a spokesman for the Russian athlete’s team told TASS on Monday.

"Vladimir arrived in the zone of the special military operation, where he will perform the assigned tasks," the source said.

Mineev was handed a call-up notice last year within the framework of Russia’s partial mobilization. He was issued an exemption, but Mineev signed a military contract to join the special operation based on a condition to have some time to prepare for his scheduled fight against Fernando Rodriguez of Brazil.

The Russian defeated his Brazilian opponent on November 18, 2022 with a technical knockout.

Mineev, 32, is the European and World Champion in professional kickboxing, boasting a record of 26 wins (12 by KOs) and two defeats. His MMA statistics boast a record of 16 wins, one defeat and one draw.

Russia’s special military operation

On February 21, 2022, President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow was recognizing the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics DPR and LPR respectively). Russia signed agreements on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with their leaders. Moscow recognized the Donbass republics in accordance with the DPR and LPR constitutions within the boundaries of the Donetsk and Lugansk Regions as of the beginning of 2014.

Russian President Putin announced on February 24, 2022 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics for assistance, he had decided to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine. The DPR and the LPR launched an operation to liberate their territories under Kiev’s control.