Russian Propaganda Claims About Blessing of Heraskevych's Helmet Denied by Athlete and Church

Claims of a Helmet Blessing for Vladyslav Heraskevych

According to Главком: Russian propagandist Yulia Latynina has spread a claim on social media platform X that skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych's helmet will be blessed on February 26, 2026, at a church in Lviv by Metropolitan Makariy. This story has been categorically denied by both the official channels of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the athlete himself. Such claims are part of a wider pattern of disinformation targeting Ukrainian figures.

Vladyslav Heraskevych's Olympic Disqualification

Skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for wearing a helmet featuring a political symbol. The IOC, along with the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), ruled the helmet violated the Olympic Charter. The disqualification was announced just before his first run at the Games, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport later dismissed his appeal against the ruling. He is barred from competing in the 2026 Olympics while wearing that specific helmet.

In response to Latynina's claim, Vladyslav Heraskevych stated:

“Latynina is insane.” - Vladyslav Heraskevych

The OCU's official resources also do not confirm any planned blessing of the helmet, further underscoring the falsity of Latynina's report.

This incident highlights the critical need to verify information sources, especially concerning athletes whose careers can be significantly impacted. Heraskevych's disqualification has already sparked debate within the sporting world, and the circulation of false news only compounds the situation by potentially affecting public perception of his character and professional reputation. Both the public and media must remain vigilant against manipulative or unverified information.