Ukrainian wrestler turned his back to the RF flag at the European Championship: UWW demands to evaluate the act

U23 European Championship in Serbia

According to Главком: Ukrainian freestyle wrestlers won four medals at the U23 European Championship held in Serbia. Among the medalists is Artem Kostiuk, who became a bronze medalist in the weight category up to 86 kg. During the awards ceremony, he turned his back to the flag of the Russian Federation. This act provoked a reaction from the representative of the Russian wrestling federation, Georgy Bryusov, who appealed to the technical delegate of the International Wrestling Federation (UWW), Theodor Hamakos, demanding an assessment of the actions of the Ukrainian athlete.

Results of Ukrainian wrestlers

At the championship taking place in Serbian Zrenjanin, Ukrainian wrestlers demonstrated impressive results. In the weight category of 97 kg, Ivan Primachenkov won a silver medal, while:

• Viktor Borogan (65 kg) - bronze medalist
• Andriy Shokaljuk (61 kg) - bronze medalist
• Artem Kostiuk (86 kg) - bronze medalist

It is known that the victory in the weight category up to 86 kg was won by the Russian Bozigit Islamgeriyev.

The U23 European Championship in Serbia was the first competition since 2021 in which Russian wrestlers competed with national symbols. This became possible after a decision made in January 2026 by the UWW bureau, which allowed Russian athletes under 23 years old to participate in international competitions under the flag and with the anthem.

This situation highlights the tension that exists in sports circles regarding the participation of Russian athletes in international competitions. The act of Ukrainian wrestler Artem Kostiuk may be seen as an act of protest, reflecting the political circumstances and relations between Ukraine and Russia. At the same time, the successes of Ukrainian wrestlers at the championship confirm their competitiveness on the European stage, despite the challenging socio-political conditions.