Russia intends to include athletes from the annexed territories of Ukraine in its national teams

The Russian government authorized athletes from four annexed Ukrainian regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye) to compete with Russia, even if Russian troops do not control those territories in their entirety.

“The prepared document will allow them to create their own regional alliances and fully enter the Russian alliances,” he explained. Mikhail Mishustin, Russian Prime Minister, during the meeting of the Executive Board. Mishustin emphasized that it will be easier for athletes to “participate at all levels, either individually or as part of our teams.”

In addition, athletes and coaches from those four regions, officially annexed on September 30, 2022 during a ceremony in the Kremlin, can apply for state grants and awards in case of winning medals in different tournaments.

Now the heaviest fighting on the front lines is taking place in Donetsk, where a little more than half of the territory is controlled by the Russian army, although in the other three regions there are daily shelling and clashes. The northern third of Kherson is dominated by Ukrainian troops, as is part of Zaporozhye, including both regional capitals.

athletes from annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea They already compete in various individual and team events in Russia, although their football clubs are still not allowed to participate in national competitions.