Champions of terror

Russia uses sport as a tool of propaganda and to circumvent sanctions
Total number:
240
Individuals
Updated: 22.04.2026
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: 240
VASILYEV Rinat Rinatovich
VASILYEV Rinat Rinatovich
russian powerlifter, three-time moscow powerlifting champion, assistant head of the department for the study of psychological problems at the research center for military applied research at the military university
Member of the moscow paralympic powerlifting team.
He is an ambassador for the russian Paralympic committee's project "We Are Together. Sport" and a joint project of the russian Paralympic committee and the all-russian public movement "Healthy Fatherland" called "Heroes of Our Time", which aims to assist participants in the so-called SMO who have become disabled in physical rehabilitation and social adaptation through Paralympic sports, as well as involving them in the sports movement.
A direct participant in the war against Ukraine, holds the military rank of ensign. He was the commander of a motor vehicle platoon in the motor vehicle company of the 474th separate motor vehicle battalion (military unit 98592) of the 99th separate logistics brigade of the Southern military district of the russian armed forces. He took part in combat operations near Melitopol.
He was awarded the russian order of "courage" and the medal "For bravery" for his participation in the war.
Until December 2024, he continued to serve as the executive officer of the military commissariat of the united Golovinsky district of the Northern administrative district of Moscow.
He actively participates in russian propaganda, positioning himself on his own media resources as a "motivator" for amputee soldiers.
He has his own YouTube channel, through which he broadcasts military-related content, and also speaks at so-called paralympic lessons held for participants in russia's war against Ukraine.
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