Register of Russian athletes supporting the war
This list contains information about 56 Russian winter sports athletes who have expressed support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:
- bobsleigh — 26 athletes,
- skeleton — 9,
- short track speed skating — 6,
- speed skating — 4,
- ski mountaineering — 5,
- figure skating — 4,
- alpine skiing — 2 athletes.
What was analyzed?
The assessment of Russian athletes’ support for the war was based on an analysis of the following data:
- Public statements in support of the Russian army.
- Social media subscriptions to communities that glorify the Russian army and/or collect aid for soldiers.
- Social media subscriptions to groups supporting the current Russian regime and Putin personally.
- Comments and likes under posts expressing support for the Russian military and/or the current authorities.
- Visits to territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia.
- Membership in the Central Sports Club of the Army (CSKA), which requires athletes to sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
- Membership in the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia).
- Previous service in the Russian army.
- Participation in official events organized by the Russian government, including those with a military theme.
- Participation in events organized or sponsored by Russian sanctioned companies and organizations, or the use of merchandise promoting such companies;
- Military service of the athletes’ close relatives.
- Signs of support for the Russian army or government by the athletes’ first-degree relatives.
- Income received by the athletes or their close relatives from organizations linked to the Russian authorities or the military-industrial complex.
- Other information that may not directly indicate support for the army or government but could carry reputational risks — such as microloans and debts, betting and gambling, compromising interests including drugs or erotic content, etc.
These Russian athletes may be allowed to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games as “neutral” athletes. However, the analysis shows the opposite — none of these athletes are truly neutral.
Special thanks to the Artycoders team for their assistance in creating the registry form.
This publication was compiled with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. It’s content is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Renaissance Foundation.
Register of Russian athletes
Тип:
Вартість:
| Name and Date of Birth | Category | Contacts | War support | Phone | Participation in government events and relations with government agencies | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Andrey Fyodorov 24.09.1989 |
Ski mountaineering (neutral) |
FB, Inst, VK, TG-channel, TG id: 986091994, andreytx@rambler.ru, LiveJournal | Subscribed to the VK page of the Z-blogger and volunteer "Krupnokaliberny pereplokh" In 2024 saved a video excerpt from a Soviet film called "Fighting Bandera". Subscribed to the Russian designer and blogger Artemy Lebedev, who has been under Ukrainian sanctions since 2017 for visiting the occupied territories, and publicly supports military aggression against Ukraine. Andrey's father, Igor, published many propaganda posts on the topic of World War II on his VK page (examples:1, 2, 3, 4). Also Andrey's father, published on his VK page:
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+79218966853 |
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Nikita Filippov 22.11.2002 |
Ski mountaineering (neutral) |
Inst, VK1, VK2 (del.), МойМир, TG id: 446454668, TG-channel, skimo_nikita@bk.ru, nik_berdalen@bk.ru |
Subscribed to the Rosgvardia public page. |
+79245864522 | He participated in the race wearing a sponsored T-shirt of the Russian oil and gas company Lukoil (1, 2) in 2024. | |
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Pavel Yakimov 03.07.1992 |
Ski mountaineering (neutral) |
FB, Inst, VK, TG id: 5324926999, Pinterest, palyak92@yandex.ru, pashayak1988@gmail.com |
Pavel's father, Alexander, in VK he is subscribed to the pages of propagandist Yuri Podoliaka (1, 2), Z-military officers Alexander Kots, Poddubny, Sladkov, a page about the American pro-Russian blogger Tucker Carlson, the page "Svodki SVO" and the community of the Putin supporters' movement "Narodny Front". |
+79135194059 | Probably, as of 2021, Pavel's brother (1, 2, 3), Artiom Kozlovsky, worked in the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation (1, 2). According to inside information, in 2020 Pavel received a salary from the city department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and from the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation |
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Varvara Prokhorova 27.12.1991 |
Ski mountaineering (neutral) |
FB, Inst, VK, OK, МойМир, TG-channel, TG id: 222898204, varjusik91@mail.ru, 14wapro111@mail.ru |
Subscribed to the page "3rd Winter World Military Games 2017". Varvara's mother, Inessa, in 2025 shared posts of the right-wing Russian community "Russian Community" (1, 2). |
+79261331711, +79998475934 | From 2015 to 2017 she was a member of CSKA. In 2023 she was photographed before participating in competitions in a uniform sponsored by the oil and gas company "Lukoil"(1, 2). She also published a video with "Lukoil" paraphernalia in December 2022 (1, 2). |
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Miron Shcherbakov 02.09.2006 |
Alpine skiing (not allowed) |
Inst, VK, МойМир, artemy921@gmail.com, dekebr11180@mail.ru |
In January 2025, he probably participated in an airsoft game in the uniform of a soldier of the Russian Armed Forces. He commented on a photo from the game as "the impact of the militarization of society" and quoted a song about the Russian military in the description (1, 2). According to his VK subscriptions, he is interested in military-tactical games (airsoft and paintball) (1, 2). He is a subscriber to the page of the tactical equipment manufacturer Wartech, which is known for its support of the Russian army and war (1, 2). |
+79619607786, +79146288721 | In 2025, he participated in competitions in Italy wearing a uniform with the symbols of the Russian oil and gas company Gazprom (1, 2). | |
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Ksenia Korzhova 30.09.2004 |
Skating sport (neutral) |
VK, Inst, korzova226@gmail.com, korzhova5492@gmail.com |
According to the saved screenshots published in the video on YT, in 2024, Ksenia liked posts about Yunarmiya (1, 2), and a post about the "victory parade". | +79110628685, +79658046273 | Sister, Korzhova Veronika, participated in competitions of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation (1, 2), and studies at the Ivanovo Fire and Rescue Academy of the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation. | |
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Alexandra Sayutina 14.05.2001 |
Skating sport (neutral) |
Inst, VK, sayutinalexandra@gmail.com |
+79160428776 | - | ||
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Elena Seregina 30.12.2001 |
Short track (neutral) |
VK, Inst, OK, TG-id:964750523 / @penka_tyt, seriogina.elena2016@yandex.ru |
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+79038298671 | - | |
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Petr Kotmakov 09.11.2005 |
Short track (neutral) |
VK, VK2, Inst, FB, kotmakov.p.p@gmail.com, kotmakovpetr7@gmail.com, kotmakovpp@example.com |
According to the publication (1, 2, 3), in May 2025 he became a recruit of the sports company of the Russian "Central Sports Club of the Army" (CSKA). The publication indicates that during the week they studied radiation, biological and chemical protection, military regulations and combat training. The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Defense, Army General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, as well as the head of the so-called "DPR" Denis Pushilin. | +79127856234 | ||
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Alina Gorbacheva 23.07.2007 |
Figure skating (neutral) |
Inst, VK,TG-id:5134695459, alinchik23072007@gmail.com |
In May 2022, she wore a cap with Russian symbols on a private vacation. As of 2025, she still wears (1, 2) a sports uniform with Russian symbols. | +79690343211 |
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