This may become a fine continuation of a long-standing tradition of the U.S. Air Force and other countries, whereby “Fighting…
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have published data on over 20 Russian athletes representing the Central Sports Club of the Russian Army (CSKA) and the Russian National Guard, who visited temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
As noted by DIU, the data was published in the “Champions of Terror” section of the War&Sanctions portal.
“They claim to be part of the global sports community and participate in international tournaments and competitions”, — DIU stated.
Among the twenty-one potential Russian agents of influence are:
- Varvara Prokhorova — an active participant in international competitions of global scale, a member of the Russian national roller ski team and a member of the CSKA ski-alpinism team, holding the military rank of Warrant Officer in the Russian Armed Forces;
- Pyotr Kotmakov — Russian short-track speed skater, private of the CSKA sports company, in October 2025 admitted by the International Skating Union (ISU) to the selection for the 2026 Olympic Games;
- Members of the Russian national bobsleigh and skeleton teams, who are servicemen of sports companies, representatives of CSKA and the National Guard, visited temporarily occupied Crimea and claim participation in international competitions.
DIU emphasized that CSKA provides constant active support to the military and veterans of the so-called Russian Armed Forces, purchases and delivers special equipment, FPV drones, generators, etc., to the front, conducts military-patriotic education for children and youth from temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, organizes and holds sports-patriotic events, and promotes Russian narratives and influence, including within the framework of the World Military Games project.
CSKA athletes in international competitions effectively represent the armed forces of the aggressor state.
“Such Russian athletes must be excluded from the global sports community and barred from participation in international competitions, even under a neutral status. Russia uses international sport as ‘soft power’ abroad to spread its narratives, justify the war and war crimes, and legitimize occupation”, — DIU added.
