The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Skating Federation have addressed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Skating Union (ISU), urging a thorough investigation and immediate action following confirmed violations of the recommendations regarding the “neutral status” of Russian athletes.
The Ukrainian side emphasized that, in the context of Russia’s ongoing large-scale aggression with the support of Belarus, individuals who publicly demonstrate loyalty to the aggressor regime cannot participate in international sports competitions, regardless of any declared “neutral status,” the Ministry of Sports statement said.
Confirmed violations of neutrality:
- Russian skater Aleksandra Sayutina attended Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual address to the Federal Assembly on February 29, 2024—a key propaganda event of the Kremlin regime. Her participation is documented in video and photo materials, as well as social media posts. On the same day, she shared posts demonstrating support for the Russian authorities and military.
- Skater Kseniya Korzhova consistently likes content that glorifies the Russian army and promotes aggression against Ukraine, including posts from individuals under international sanctions.
- Skater Daniil Naydenishev maintains contacts with servicemen of the Russian occupying forces and shares publications featuring the symbols of the Russian armed forces
“These facts indicate that the mentioned athletes show no signs of the ‘neutrality’ defined by the IOC. They participated in propaganda events, publicly supported Putin’s regime and related structures directly involved in the war against Ukraine,” the Ministry stressed.
As previously reported, in December 2022, Russia was stripped of the right to host European speed skating and short-track championships.
