Pyunik’s president, Artur Soghomonyan, addressed the club’s recent approach to matches against Russian teams, stating that the alignment of schedule and opposition was driven by practical considerations rather than political ones. He emphasized that the team had engagements with Russian clubs under discussion and that any perceived reluctance was misinterpreted. The current stance, according to Soghomonyan, is that talks are ongoing to organize friendlies with Russian sides toward the end of the training period, after the team has had time to settle into its camp. He noted that early stages of preparation often involve mismatches and uncertainties, especially in training camps where several clubs converge and players cope with injuries or form issues. He described the situation as a typical setup in preseason that is frequently affected by logistical and sporting variables, not by any national policy.
During their training camp in Turkey, Pyunik had been slated to face Orenburg, Krylia Sovetov, and Khimki, but instead played a single match against Shakhtar Donetsk. A local sports journalist had reported that Pyunik’s Ukrainian players were reluctant to participate in a game against the Russians, a claim that Soghomonyan did not substantiate with evidence, urging readers to consider the broader context of preseason programs where lineups can shift rapidly due to tactical plans or player availability.
Historical context adds complexity to the current narrative. In the spring of 2022, rulings from FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) led to the suspension of the participation of the Russian national team and all Russian clubs in competitions governed by those agencies. This move has shaped the scheduling dynamics for clubs across Europe, including those in training camps where teams reassess opponent lists to align with competitive calendars, travel logistics, and the physical readiness of players.
Earlier reports noted that tensions had flared at the Turkish training camp when players from Russian clubs were involved in on-site incidents. Those events occurred within a broader atmosphere of preseason testing and adjustment, where coaches balance the need to build team cohesion with the demands of conditioning and tactical implementation. Pyunik’s leadership has consistently maintained that decisions about opponent selection and match play during camps reflect practical considerations—emphasizing that there is no intentional policy linked to national actions, but rather a focus on fit, health, and performance needs for the coming season.