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
KIRILLOVA / Nadel Elena Alexandrovna
KIRILLOVA / Nadel Elena Alexandrovna
so-called acting Minister of Sport of the Kherson region, сhairperson of the Crimean Regional Branch of the All-russian Public Movement "Mothers of russia", former director of the Yalta City Teen and Youth Center, former director of the Yalta City Teen and Youth Center
As a member of the occupying authorities, she implements the aggressor country's policy of integrating sports teams from the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region into the russian sports environment.
Kirillova personally oversees the federal programme of joint sports camps and training sessions for athletes from Kherson region national teams with leading russian athletes at the Crimean Federal Centre of the russian ministry of sport in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea.
In September 2025, Kirillova headed the sports delegation of the Kherson region at the XVI Festival of Culture and Sports of the Peoples of Southern russia, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the "Great Victory". The stated goal of the event was to "strengthen interethnic unity".
In addition, the so-called Ministry of Sport of the Kherson region, headed by Kirillova, systematically organises and conducts mass sporting events of a propaganda nature, aimed at involving the population in integration into the russian cultural space, supporting the so-called SVO and glorifying the russian military.
In particular, Kirillova personally took part in the All-russian sports and patriotic race "From Victory to Victory!", receiving the "torch of victory" from Moscow City Duma deputy Katerina Razzakova, lit from the Eternal Flame in Alexander Garden.
In July 2025, the so-called ministry of sport of the Kherson region organised an athletics race involving employees of law enforcement agencies, representatives of the VSKS, the russian ministry of emergency situations, the russian guard, volunteers and public figures, dedicated to the memory of the "Hero of Russia" - Colonel Alexei Katerinichov of the FSB.
In August 2025, the so-called ministry of sport of the Kherson region, headed by Kirillova, together with the russian state fund for the support of participants in the so-called special military operation "Defenders of the Fatherland", held a laser combat competition with the participation of disabled veterans of the "SVO" as part of the All-russian sports festival "Strength of russia".
In her previous position as head of the Yalta City Teen and Youth Centre, Kirillova ensured the functioning of the regional branch of the volunteer centre #МЫВМЕСТЕ, providing humanitarian aid to the occupying forces. Also, according to Kirillova, the Teen and Youth Centre under her control trained future students of military higher education institutions and employees of russian law enforcement agencies.
In December 2023, she received the honorary title of "Honoured Worker of Culture of the Republic of Crimea" from the occupying authorities of Crimea.
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