Zelensky canceled scholarships for a number of Olympic champions: full list
18 December 10:30
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree suspending the payment of state scholarships to individual champions and medalists of the Olympic, Paralympic and Deaflympic Games. The relevant document is dated December 17 and published on the website of the head of state, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
The document was made public on December 17, 2025 and comes into force on the date of publication.
On the basis of what the decision was made
The decree was issued in accordance with the Regulation on State Scholarships for Champions and Winners of the Olympic, Paralympic and Deaflympic Games, approved in 2004 and updated to reflect changes in legislation.
State scholarships are a form of long-term support for athletes for outstanding services to Ukraine and its international sporting authority.
To whom the payment of state scholarships was terminated
According to the text of the decree, the following persons are no longer eligible for scholarships:
- Yevhen Braslavets – Olympic sailing champion (scholarship was awarded in 2005);
- Serhiy Bubka, Olympic pole vaulting champion (scholarship awarded in 2004);
- Yuriy Yermakov, an athlete who has received a scholarship since 2003;
- Ilya Kvasha, Olympic medalist (scholarship since 2019);
- Yana Klochkova, multiple Olympic swimming champion (scholarship since 2009);
- Valeriy Lozyk, an athlete who has been receiving payments since 2003;
- Igor Matvienko, Olympic sailing champion (scholarship since 2006);
- Inna Frolova, an athlete whose scholarship was renewed in 2021.
It should be noted that in 2023, journalists reported that Serhiy Bubka was a co-owner of several companies registered in Russia. In the same year, his brother was notified of suspicion of collaboration with the occupation authorities.
After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Yana Klochkova moved to the temporarily occupied Crimea and did not publicly express her position on the war.
After the occupation of Crimea in 2014, Yevhen Braslavets became a citizen of the Russian Federation.
What does the termination of scholarships mean?
State scholarships of the President of Ukraine are awarded to athletes for outstanding achievements and are intended to support those who represent Ukraine in the international arena. The decision to terminate payments is usually made in case of loss of connection with Ukraine, acquisition of citizenship of another state, residence in the temporarily occupied territories or actions contrary to national interests.
