Ukrainian Poker Pro's Alliance with Russian Counterpart
Andriy "STiger" Novak, a Ukrainian poker player, has been found to be in business with Russian player Artem "Vea" Vezhenkov. Together, they co-founded and coach at SV School, a poker training platform whose websites and social media accounts operate exclusively in Russian. The school maintains a profile on VKontakte, a Russian social network under international sanctions, where Vezhenkov and Novak host joint live streams.
During his streams, Artem Vezhenkov echoes Kremlin propaganda narratives supporting the war against Ukraine. For instance, he has claimed that 'books are supposedly being burned in Ukraine' and argued that 'Russia's reason for starting the war was Ukraine enshrining NATO and EU membership in its Constitution.' Such rhetoric is alarming as it aligns with a broader disinformation campaign.
Fate of a Russian Occupier
Separately, reports have confirmed the death of Russian occupier Alexander Tokarev, a 40-year-old amateur footballer who played for clubs in the Volgograd region. Tokarev began his football career in 2006 with Naftovyk from Zhirnovsk and went on to play for teams including:
- Urozhay from Yelan
- Burovik from Zhirnovsk
- Tekstilshchik from Ocheretino
His final club was Eksklyuziv from Volzhsky. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
This collaboration between a Ukrainian poker player and a Russian propagandist—coupled with Vezhenkov's open support for the war—highlights the fraught position in which Ukrainian athletes and society now find themselves.
The case illustrates how sports can become a battleground for political ideologies and propaganda, further straining relations between warring nations. A Ukrainian athlete partnering with someone who publicly backs aggression against Ukraine risks sparking backlash from the public and fans, underscoring the need for ethical conduct in sports and the growing impact of politics on athletic endeavors.