Leaders of Ukrainian communities in Portugal, Spain die suddenly days apart
The leaders of two Ukrainian communities in Europe died suddenly three days apart: on September 13, 2026, Pavlo Sadokha, vice president of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) in Southern Europe, deputy chair of the UWC's World Coordination Council for Education and Upbringing, and president of the Union of Ukrainians in Portugal (SUU), and on September 16, Roman Rodyk, founder of the Ukrainian…
Two Ukrainian community leaders in Europe died suddenly within three days of each other in September 2026. On September 13, 56-year-old Pavlo Sadokha, vice president of the Ukrainian World Congress in Southern Europe, passed away in Quarteira, Portugal. He was found dead and initially diagnosed with a heart attack, though his death was later ruled a natural cause due to a history of heart disease.
Sadokha had exposed spy networks and faced threats of violence. His death prompted the Portuguese Attorney General's Office to open a criminal investigation. The following day, Roman Rodyk, founder of the Ukrainian diaspora in Barcelona and chairman of the Ukrainian Youth Community in Catalonia, died during a basketball practice session from cardiac arrest.
A few days later, authorities in Spain and Catalan emergency services had not issued any official statements regarding Rodyk's death.
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