The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has released a new batch of data on Russian sports figures involved in Kremlin-led information and psychological operations. The information was published on the War & Sanctions portal, according to a statement by Main Intelligence Directorate.
The list includes Russian athletes, coaches, and officials who support the Kremlin’s aggressive policies while remaining active in the international sports arena.
Among those named:
- Yana Egoryan – Russian fencer, lieutenant in the Russian Armed Forces, and Vice President of the Moscow Regional Fencing Federation. She represents the CSKA club under the Russian Ministry of Defense and serves as an ambassador for the patriotic movement “Healthy Fatherland,” which operates even in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.
- Alina Zagitova – Olympic figure skater, TV host on Russia’s Channel One, and ambassador of oil giant Tatneft. She took part in the 2020 constitutional referendum that allowed Putin to remain in power and has publicly supported his 2024 presidential candidacy. She also visited Russian-occupied Crimea.
- Kliment Kolesnikov – Russian swimmer, senior instructor of physical training in the Central District of the Russian National Guard, holding a military rank.
- Evgeny Baydusov – Greco-Roman wrestler, member of the Russian national team, participant in the CIS Games and the 2025 European Wrestling Championship. He has publicly used the pro-war “Z” symbol and declared Crimea to be Russian territory.
- Aram Grigoryan – Judoka, member of the Russian national team and the Dynamo Sports Club, which is affiliated with Russian law enforcement. He has taken part in fundraising for Russian military units.
- Ilya Burov – Olympic freestyle skier, enlisted in the Russian military’s CSKA sports unit in Sevastopol. He openly displays pro-Kremlin symbols and calls for “protection of Russian-speaking citizens,” echoing Russian propaganda narratives.
Ukraine's intelligence agency stresses that all listed individuals remain part of the global sports system despite their ties to Russian armed forces and their active role in propaganda.
Main Intelligence Directorate and the Ministry of Youth and Sports call on the international sports community to take decisive action: completely remove Russian athletes from global competitions (including under “neutral” status), exclude them from international federations, and cease any cooperation with Russian representatives.
