Former Boxing Champion Kostya Tszyu Faces Up to 5 Years in Prison for Visiting Occupied Donetsk

Tszyu's Visit to Occupied Donetsk

According to Главком: On April 21, 2026, former world boxing champion Kostya Tszyu traveled to the occupied city of Donetsk, where he participated in propaganda events. During his visit, he met with Andriy Chertkov, a representative of the occupation administration presented as the 'Prime Minister of the DPR.' Chertkov presented Tszyu with an honorary certificate from the so-called government.

Tszyu entered the temporarily occupied territory without passing through Ukrainian customs and border control. This act may be classified as a violation of entry procedures under the Criminal Code of Ukraine, an offense carrying a potential penalty of up to five years' imprisonment.

Kostya Tszyu, a Soviet, Russian, and Australian professional boxer, is a three-time USSR champion, two-time European champion, and former undisputed world champion in the light welterweight division. He stated that Donetsk is a city close to his heart, where he has many friends.

'Donetsk is a close and familiar city to me. I have been here many, many times. I have a huge number of people here I can call friends. Donetsk is a real working-class city to me. Moreover, I know this: a huge number of local young guys love to practice boxing. I hope we can come up with something for them. We are planning to open one of the branches of my boxing school-Kostya Tszyu-here.'

Last year, Kostya Tszyu also visited annexed Crimea, where he was a guest of honor at a propaganda tournament. His actions in Donetsk have sparked significant controversy and could lead to legal repercussions. Such visits by international figures are highly sensitive, as they can be seen as legitimizing the occupation.

Tszyu's visit underscores the complex intersection of cultural figures and political conflict in Ukraine. Since the war began in 2014, unauthorized travel to occupied territories has been a criminal offense in Ukraine. This case may set a legal precedent, highlighting the potential consequences for those who cross into these areas without official Ukrainian authorization, regardless of their public profile.