Ukraine imposes sanctions against russian sports propagandists

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed Decree No. 60/2026, which enacted the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions on three individuals and two legal entities involved in spreading propaganda of the aggressor country of russia. This is stated in a notification on the website of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

Among those on the list is russian boxer and fighter Yakov Bukin, who publicly supports russian aggression against Ukraine and approves of the occupiers' actions. The russian Paralympic Committee and its president Pavel Rozhkov, as well as the Computer Sports Federation of the aggressor country russia and its president Dmitry Smit.

It is noted that they use sports grounds to spread anti-Ukrainian narratives and russian propaganda, thus trying to justify russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.

Through the introduction of these sanctions, Ukraine is reportedly reminding the world before the 2026 Winter Olympics that sport is not outside politics, as the sanctioned individuals openly support aggression, war crimes and occupation, thus destroying the principles and values of the Olympic movement.

"I also agreed on the next sanctions steps - the decision will be made soon. The pressure on Russia must be maintained, and we will continue to work to synchronize sanctions, not only the decisions of partners in our jurisdiction, but also Ukrainian sanctions decisions in the lists of partners. Already now, a significant part of the personal sanctions of our partners, as well as the lists against legal entities, are Ukraine's proposals," Zelenskyy said in his address.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, Finland and Sweden have offered the European Union several options for new economic sanctions against the aggressor country russia. The proposed measures include duties on all goods and a ban on servicing ships transporting russian energy carriers.