Champions of terror

Russia uses sport as a tool of propaganda and to circumvent sanctions

Total number:

149

Individuals

Updated: 30.04.2025

The participation of russian athletes in international competitions is a means of whitewashing russia`s reputation (sportwashing), spreading disinformation, justifying and legitimizing aggression against Ukraine among foreign audiences and demonstrating russia`s continued presence in the civilized world

Russian officials in international sports committees and federations remain a russian lobby and an element of strategic influence outside russia, providing ways to establish international relations and cooperation bypassing sanctions

What needs to be done:

suspend russian athletes from international competitions
exclude russian sports officials from international organizations

Sport should symbolize peace again

Total: 1

KRYLOV Mykyta Andriyovych

Mixed style fighter, Master of sports in karate, Master of sports in hand-to-hand combat, European champion in kyokushinkai among juniors

He is an active participant in international MMA tournaments in the UFC, M-1 Global, Fight Nights, Oplot Challenge, etc.
In April 2025, Krylov made a public appearance under the russian flag and stated that he was "proud to represent russia".
Since 2015, having Ukrainian citizenship and despite russian armed aggression and war against Ukraine, he has been actively training in Moscow, stating that changing his citizenship does not matter to him and that he is quite satisfied with his Ukrainian passport. However, in 2018, he changed his position and announced the start of the procedure for obtaining russian citizenship.
He has also repeatedly stated his loyalty to the terrorist russian groups of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR", and that if they are recognized, he will be the first in line to receive passports of the self-proclaimed republics.
In addition, Krylov posted images with the russian flag on his Instagram page and claimed that in 2014, a "coup d'état" took place in Ukraine, which overthrew the legitimate government and that the West initiated these events.
After the start of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Krylov noted that he was most concerned about the explosions of "Tochka-U"missile in Donetsk and Makiivka, because, according to him, such sentiments had been persisting for more than 8 years.
In March 2023, during a fight at the UFC Fight Night 221 tournament in Las Vegas (USA), Krylov chanted "russia! for Donbas!".