Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has placed sanctions on more than 80 Russian athletes. Notable names include figure skating choreographer Ilya Averbukh, footballer Igor Akinfeev, and gymnast Artur Dalaloyan. On April 15, 2023, the president published the decree from the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine detailing personal, special, economic, and other restrictive measures.
The penalties are set to remain in force for fifty years.
The sanctions cover 87 individuals, spanning active competitors and retired coaches. Alongside Averbukh, Akinfeev, and Dalaloyan, the list features former CSKA goalkeeper and national team member Veniamin Mandrykin, footballer Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, figure skaters Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Mark Kondratyuk, tennis player Alexandra Pospelova, volleyball coach Sergei Ovchinnikov, gymnast Svetlana Khorkina, weightlifter Mikhail Koklyaev, swimmer Anton Chupkov, gymnast Victoria Listunova, skier Veronika Stepanova, and others. The list also includes Ksenia Shoigu, daughter of the head of the Russian triathlon federation and the defense minister. All placed on the blacklist face travel bans to Ukraine, a prohibition on doing business or owning real estate there, and any existing Ukrainian assets are frozen. In addition, all Ukrainian titles and awards held by the individuals were stripped.
Earlier, Kyiv had already restricted several Russians in sports: sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev, Match TV producer Alexander Tashchin, Umar Kremlev, president of the International Boxing Union, and Yana Rudkovskaya, producer and wife of figure skater Evgeny Plushenko, were also sanctioned.
Sanctions and responses
The sanctions extend to restrictions on entry into Ukraine, blocking of assets, and revocation of licenses where applicable. The measures aim to curtail participation in Ukrainian sports and disrupt related economic activities tied to sanctioned individuals.
In a separate move, the Ukrainian president issued another decree targeting the Russian IT sector, expanding penalties to 351 individuals and 254 legal entities. Major tech players such as Yandex, VKontakte (VK), and Rambler appeared on the restricted list, along with industry groups and training platforms like Gazprom automatizatsiya, Gazpromneft-Digital Solutions, Skillbox, GeekBrains, and Skyeng. Cybersecurity firms including InfoWatch and Positive Technologies also faced restrictions. Legal entities are subject to ten-year penalties, with their Ukrainian assets blocked and operating licenses revoked in Ukraine.
Earlier, on April 1, Zelensky announced sanctions affecting 257 Russian entities and 225 associated companies for ten years. Subsequent additions to the blacklist included public figures linked to various regions, such as Daria Lantratova from the LPR, Konstantin Basyuk from the Kherson region, Dmitry Vorona from the Zaporozhye region, his wife Svetlana, and other relatives of Russian officials. Also named were Viktor Zubkov, a member of the Gazprom board, and Leonid Roshal, head of a pediatric surgery research institute.
Reaction from the sanctioned athletes
In an interview with socialbites.ca, Ilya Averbukh commented that the sanctions would not hinder his professional work. He described his response as one of resolve, emphasizing his loyalty to his country. Averbukh expressed gratitude for past experiences in Ukraine, recalling moments when large crowds attended performances and the Kyiv ice arena offered a memorable reception. He reflected on a time when a standing ovation marked his last visit to the city and affirmed that he continues to reside and work in his homeland. He also noted that the sanctions do not influence his current activities or plans.
These remarks illustrate a broader sentiment among several sanctioned athletes who have chosen to continue their careers abroad or to separate their professional lives from political developments. The situation remains a focal point of discussion regarding how international sports figures respond to sanctions and how sports diplomacy intersects with geopolitical conflict.
Strategic implications for sports and technology
The scope of the sanctions highlights how Ukraine views the intersection of sport, business, and national security. By targeting individuals as well as corporate entities connected to Russia, Kyiv seeks to limit cross-border activities that could support adversarial networks or undermine Ukrainian stability. Analysts note that the sanctions may affect sponsorships, events, and broadcasting arrangements linked to these figures and organizations, potentially reshaping the regional sports and tech landscape for years to come.
Observers also point to the broader message: sanctions are extended to sectors beyond athletics, including information technology and digital services, which are critical to national infrastructure and modern competition. The measures reflect a strategy that blends sport governance with economic and cyber considerations, signaling a persistent approach to containment and deterrence in the region.
While some athletes may maintain a public profile in other markets, the sanctions create barriers that complicate travel, competition, and sponsorship opportunities within Ukraine and its allies. The evolving policy landscape will continue to influence how athletes, teams, and tech firms navigate international sanctions regimes and align their operations with geopolitical realities.