Champions of terror

Russia uses sport as a tool of propaganda and to circumvent sanctions
Total number:
254
Individuals
Updated: 14.10.2026
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:
Sport should symbolize peace again
 
 
Total: 6
REPKIN Artemiy Olegovich
REPKIN Artemiy Olegovich
russian discus thrower, member of the all-russian political party "United russia", deputy of the Cheboksary city assembly of deputies, chief specialist-expert of the military commissariat of the Chuvash Republic
Member of the Chuvashia paralympic athletics team.
Participant in the 2025 International Military Sports Council (CISM) World Para Athletics Championships in Quito (Ecuador), silver medalist in discus throwing as part of the russian armed forces team.
Direct participant in the war against Ukraine, he was deputy commander of the 96th separate reconnaissance brigade of the 1st tank army of the western military district of the russian armed forces, military unit 52634. He holds the military rank of lieutenant colonel in the russian armed forces.
He was awarded the order of courage for his participation in the war against Ukraine.
He is a graduate of the federal educational program "Time of heroes", launched by putin's decree on February 29, 2024, during his address to the federal assembly. The program aims to train highly qualified, competent leaders from among the participants of the so-called SMO for further work in state and municipal authorities, as well as state-owned companies.
He is a participant in the "Time of the SVOikh" personnel program and currently serves as chief specialist-expert of the military commissariat of the Chuvash Republic.
He actively participates in mass propaganda events, in particular, he participated in the "Victory Parade" on Red Square in Moscow in 2024. Also, in May 2024, he spoke at a meeting with young people at the House of friendship of peoples of the Chuvash Republic, dedicated to the so-called SMO.
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BORISOV Dmitry Alexandrovich
BORISOV Dmitry Alexandrovich
russian powerlifter, three-time St. Petersburg powerlifting champion
Member of the russian paralympic powerlifting team (bench press). He is also the captain of the Zvezda sledge hockey team, which consists of veterans of the so-called SMO.
A direct participant in the war against Ukraine with the call sign "Sobol", he is a scout and holds the military rank of captain in the russian armed forces. He took part in combat operations against Ukraine in the Kharkiv direction as commander of a motorized rifle company of the 69th guards motorized rifle division (military unit 02511) of the 6th combined arms army of the Western military district of the russian armed forces.
He was awarded the order of courage and the medal for diligence and merit.
He currently remains a career military officer and continues to serve in the military commissariat of the Primorsky district of St. Petersburg as a leading specialist-expert. He is responsible for conducting 10-day training sessions for conscripts, preparing citizens for military service, and advising on admission to higher military educational institutions.
He uses his military experience to promote military service in the russian federation, in particular, he is actively involved in conducting classes on patriotic education in schools, hospitals, and for members of the all-russian children's and youth military-patriotic public movement "Yunarmiya". In addition, he appeared in episode of season 10 of the series "Real guys" in the role of a "veteran of the SMO".
He systematically delivers "humanitarian aid", including thermal imagers, sights, and motorcycles, to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine through the "Nasha zabota" movement and the russian union of veterans.
In 2024, he served as an election observer for the public chamber, and in 2025, he announced his intention to run for parliament.
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