Russian occupier and world karate champion Maxim Bakhariev expressed concern over the lack of respect and pride in Russian society towards participants in the conflict with Ukraine. During his speech at the Veterans Forum, he called for a change in the attitude towards soldiers, emphasizing the importance of paying tribute to the heroes and warriors for their actions. Bakhariev is a well-known athlete and multiple medalist in world karate championships, but after participating in the aggression against Ukraine, he lost all four limbs.
In light of these events, it was also recently revealed that Russian athletes had participated in propaganda activities alongside military personnel involved in the conflict with Ukraine. This violates the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee regarding neutral athletes. In this context, it is important to note that the 2026 Olympics is scheduled to take place from February 6 to 22 in Italy.