The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has published data on the War&Sanctions portal regarding 11 Russian athletes, coaches, and sports officials who continue to take part in international competitions despite supporting the war.
This was reported by the Intelligence Agency press service.
The individuals in question represent the Central Sports Club of the Army (CSKA) of the Russian Federation, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense of the aggressor state. This organization systematically supports invading forces: it provides them with equipment, FPV drones, and gear. It is also involved in military-patriotic education of children and promotes international cooperation, including within the framework of the World Military Games project.
By competing internationally, CSKA members effectively represent the Russian armed forces and serve as a tool for propaganda and the legitimization of armed aggression. Information about the 11 athletes from the club who support the war against Ukraine and continue to participate in international competitions is published in the “Champions of Terror” section of War&Sanctions. Among them are:
- Olga Zaitseva – Russian biathlete and deputy of the Moscow City Duma, member of the “United Russia” party. In February this year, she visited the temporarily occupied Donetsk, where she met with the so-called head of the pseudo-parliament of the self-proclaimed “DPR” and the leader of the military group “Shakhtarska Division,” Kostiantyn Kuzmin;
- Yelizaveta Ivanova, Mykola Yarylovets, Olena Krasovska, Dmytro Fakirianov, Viktoriia Meshkova – members of the climbing national team who visited temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine but continue to compete internationally, including under a “neutral” status recognized by the International Federation of Sport Climbing;
- Mykola Monov – coach of the Russian Greco-Roman wrestling national team;
- Serhii Semenov, Serhii Yemelin, Ali Ilyasov, Erzhu Zakriiev – Greco-Roman wrestlers representing CSKA who have taken part in trips to temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Intelligence officials emphasize that Russia systematically uses international sport as a tool of “soft power” to promote its narratives, justify the war, and attempt to legitimize the occupation of Ukrainian territories.
“Such individuals cannot remain part of the global sports community. Their participation in international competitions, even under a neutral status, is unacceptable,” the Intelligence Agency stressed.
