Ukrainian Parliament Rejects Proposal to Strip Athletes Bubka and Klochkova of State Honors

Parliamentary Request and Vote

According to Главком: The Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has voted against a motion to strip state honors from legendary athletes Serhiy Bubka and Yana Klochkova. The vote took place during a plenary session on March 10. The proposal was initiated by MP Oksana Savchuk. This legislative action was prompted by a petition from skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, who called for Bubka to be stripped of his Hero of Ukraine title and face sanctions due to his role as head of the International Masters Games Association (IMGA).

In the vote, 112 deputies supported the initiative, 5 voted against, 7 abstained, and 154 did not vote. Heraskevych's petition was formally presented during his address to the Verkhovna Rada on February 26, 2026. He stated:

'I believe Serhiy Bubka is not worthy of holding the highest state honor – the title of Hero of Ukraine. During Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, defenders of the homeland are dying every day. This title effectively places Bubka on the same level as those who give their lives for Ukraine.' Vladyslav Heraskevych

Serhiy Bubka's Achievements and IMGA Role

Serhiy Bubka, the Ukrainian track and field legend, is a six-time world champion, 35-time world record holder, and Olympic champion. He has chaired the IMGA since 2022. Under his leadership, the International Masters Games Association permitted Russian athletes to compete with national symbols at the World Masters Games, held from May 17 to 30, 2025, in Taiwan. Those games involved over 25,000 athletes from 107 countries.

Consequently, the question of revoking the honors of Bubka and Klochkova remains unresolved, and the parliament's position highlights the complex assessment of sports figures' actions within Ukraine's current political climate. This case underscores the difficult intersection of global sports governance and national sentiment during wartime. The debate reflects ongoing tensions within Ukrainian society regarding patriotism and the symbolic weight of state awards.