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Kirill Dmitriev has stated that Moscow is actively working on bringing events back
Work is being done to bring UFC events back to Russia, President Vladimir Putin’s economic aide, Kirill Dmitriev, said in a Telegram post on Sunday, signaling renewed efforts to restore ties with global mixed martial arts.
“We are working on the return of UFC tournaments to Russia,” said Dmitriev, who is also the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
Dmitriev’s statement comes amid ongoing talks between Moscow and Washington. He met with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg earlier this week.
The RDIF head has publicly backed the return of UFC events to Russia before. In early March, he urged Russian fans to “follow the news and believe” in the return of tournaments, shortly after a victory by Russian fighter Magomed Ankalaev, who became the nation’s first UFC light heavyweight champion. Ankalaev defeated Brazil’s Alex Pereira by a unanimous decision in five rounds at UFC 313 in Las Vegas.
UFC President Dana White has also said the organization could return to Russia if diplomatic relations between Washington and Moscow improve. “Trump and Putin have to figure this thing out, you know what I mean? Then we’ll do it,” White told fans during a tournament appearance, according to a video posted on YouTube.
Despite international sanctions, Russian fighters have remained active in global MMA. In February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that sports federations bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions. While Russian athletes were excluded from most international events as a result, major MMA promotions – including UFC, Bellator, and One FC – chose not to follow the guidance and continued allowing Russian fighters to compete.
Since 2018, RDIF and several international co-investors have partnered with UFC Russia to develop the mixed martial arts (MMA) industry in the country. Three UFC tournaments were held in Russia between 2018 and 2019.
How Ovechkin’s 895th goal may influence international politics
A powerful shot, the puck crosses the goal line, the siren sounds, and a legend throws his hands up in the air while the crowd at the UBS Arena in New York explodes in cheers. Both American and Russian fans rejoice, as the man scores his 895th goal.
It happened – on April 6, 2025, Alexander Ovechkin, playing for the Washington Capitals, scored against fellow countryman Ilya Sorokin, the goalie for the New York Islanders, to set an all-time NHL record.
This moment will be etched in the memories of millions of fans; it will be recounted for decades to come. “Cool, but how does this help Russia?” people who aren’t into sports may ask. Ovechkin’s “timeless” record means a lot for Russia. Here’s why.
Ovechkin’s record could help mend US-Russia relations
During a phone call on March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump discussed hockey and the possibility of organizing games between Russian and American players. Why did the two leaders discuss this? Perhaps they were talking about Ovechkin’s dizzying success in Washington. It’s no secret that the Kremlin keeps a close eye on Ovechkin, and during his last speech before his inauguration, Trump referred to the Russian hockey star as a “great player”.
Moscow and Washington share something in common: hockey and the legendary Ovechkin. Moscow nurtured his talent, spotting and cultivating his skills, giving him his start in professional hockey, while Washington has become Ovechkin’s second home – the city where he has become an NHL legend.
Russians adore Alex Ovechkin, and Americans love him just as much. The Russian embassy in the US has noted that “literally all of America” rallied behind Ovechkin’s quest to break Wayne Gretzky’s seemingly untouchable record. Consequently, the embassy noted that interest in holding a match between Russian and North American teams has surged.
Ovechkin is a living “bridge” connecting two hockey capitals – two seemingly different worlds united by their love for this thrilling game. Today, with Russia sidelined from many international competitions, the NHL remains a rare platform where Russian players remind the world of the excellence of Russia’s hockey tradition. Ovechkin’s record is a shining testament to this. Achievements such as his help maintain an informal dialogue between nations, proving that sports can sometimes transcend political barriers and create opportunities for conversation even among adversaries. Ovechkin’s 895th goal is something that both countries can be proud of and admire. It’s part of their shared history.
Ovechkin’s status as a record-holder could theoretically play a significant role in bringing Russian hockey back to the international stage. Following Ovechkin’s record, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) may again allow Russia to participate in international events, including the 2026 Olympics. The return of the Russian national hockey team, one of the strongest in the world, led by Ovechkin, would further increase global interest in hockey and popularize broadcasts of the game, subsequently boosting revenues for both the IIHF and IOC.
At the ceremony celebrating his record, Ovechkin proudly exclaimed, “All of you fans, the whole world, Russian, we did it, boys, we did it!” So why not invite Russian boys to participate in next year’s Olympics in Italy? Vladislav Tretiak, the president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, has already expressed hope that Ovechkin will be able to compete for Team Russia in 2026, and wished him success.
Ovechkin’s record could spark a “Hockey Boom” in Russia
In the Soviet Union, during the era of legends like Valery Kharlamov, Vladislav Tretiak, Boris Mikhailov, Vladimir Petrov, Alexander Yakushev, and Alexander Maltsev, hockey was an essential part of life, a cultural cornerstone for the Soviet people. Virtually every Soviet household attentively watched the 1972 Summit Series against Canada. While Ovechkin’s record might not have the same sweeping impact, it is sure to boost the sport’s popularity in Russia, inspiring kids to play hockey and one day break their idol’s record. Coincidentally, in 2026, Moscow will open the Alexander Ovechkin Academy.
“Launching this project, I want to achieve an important goal – share my experience, skills, and knowledge with new generations of talented hockey players in the country,” Ovechkin said.
In March, Ovechkin also said that he plans to return to his hometown team, HC Dynamo Moscow, next year. Just imagine how popular this would make the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)! Tickets for Dynamo games would be sold out.
Time will tell whether these optimistic predictions come true, but it’s already clear: Alexander Ovechkin’s record isn’t just an achievement; it’s a landmark event that could usher in a new era for hockey in Russia and around the world.
This article was first published by the online newspaper Gazeta.ru and was translated and edited by the RT team
Male athletes have a natural advantage over females, making competition between the sexes unfair and dangerous, Reem Alsalem believes
Athletes who were born male should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports because they enjoy an unfair advantage, according to the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem. Her comments follow a transgender controversy at the Paris Olympics, which highlighted safety issues facing participants and called into question the integrity of the games.
Alsalem on Thursday presented a report to the organization in which she warned that female athletes could be physically vulnerable to biological males when competing in the same sports.
Emphasizing that the sports function on the premise that “a separate category for females is needed to ensure equal, fair and safe opportunities,” she noted, as cited by Sky News, that “multiple studies offer evidence that athletes born male have proven performance advantages in sport throughout their lives.”
According to Alsalem, undermining the eligibility criteria in single-sex sports would lead to “unfair, unlawful and extreme forms of discrimination against female athletes.” In light of this, she argued, sports authorities should “ensure that female categories in organized sport are exclusively accessible to persons whose biological sex is female” to guarantee fair play.
The official noted that in cases when the sex of an athlete is “unknown or uncertain,” this person should undergo genetic testing in a dignified manner, such as a cheek swab.
Alsalem said that while the report – which she described as independent and having a certain authoritative weight – will not have any legally binding implications, she hopes it will contribute to the human rights conversation.
The report comes in the wake of a gender scandal at the Paris Olympics, where Algerian boxer Imane Khelif won the gold medal in women’s boxing. Khelif was disqualified from competition last year by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after a DNA test indicated that the athlete was ineligible to compete with women. Khelif has denied allegations of being born a biological male while complaining of “online harassment.”
Commenting on the controversy, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said that there is not “a scientifically solid system how to identify men and women,” arguing that chromosome testing is no longer sufficient to distinguish between the two sexes. According to the IOC, the decision came down to Khelif’s passport, which identifies the athlete as a woman.
The Palestinian Football Association has called for the country to be barred from sporting events over the war in Gaza
The world football governing body, FIFA, reportedly has no intention of suspending Israeli teams from its tournaments over the war in Gaza.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) submitted a proposal to suspend Israel in May, citing the armed conflict, raging since last October. FIFA has postponed its decision on the matter twice, most recently in late August, when the organization said its Zurich-based executive council would make an assessment in early October.
The Israeli sports website ONE claimed on Monday that no sanctions would be imposed on the Israel Football Association (IFA) or the national team. The article did not specify the source of the insider information.
The outlet said Israel was lucky that the request was handled by the 37-strong FIFA Council – and that if it were taken up by the FIFA Congress, the supreme legislative body of the association, which includes more than 200 members and gathers annually, “we would have no chance against the global majority, which is currently against Israel.”
Supporters of the Palestinian proposal have argued that the Israeli military campaign in Gaza violates FIFA’s stated goals, and warrants punishment by the organization. The death toll in the conflict, which was triggered by a deadly incursion into Israel by the militant group Hamas on October 7 last year, has surpassed 41,000 and may be significantly higher, according to aid groups and observers.
Commenting on the ONE report on Tuesday, Russian lawmaker Dmitry Svishchev said that if true, it simply highlights that international sports follow double standards, as Moscow knows from its own experience.
“Russia, it appears, has no rights. Any action by our nation is treated as forbidden, leading to disqualification of athletes. If Israel plays in FIFA international tournaments, why can’t Russians be allowed?” he said in comments to the sports channel Match TV.
Benjamin Garre has signed a contract with Russia’s Krylia Sovetov for three and a half years
Argentinian professional soccer player Benjamin Garre has declared his intention to apply for Russian citizenship just months after signing a contract with the Krylia Sovetov club based in the Russian city of Samara.
The 22-year-old left winger first told the club’s director, Sergey Kornilenko, about his plans, the Match TV sports channel reported this week. In an interview with Match, Garre confirmed his intention. “I might spend many years in this country. I’ve only been here a month, but I’m already feeling great!” he said.
“I want to get a [Russian] passport, and I am ready to spend many years in Russia,” he added. Last week, his agent, Emilio Champion, told Match TV that he was helping the player get all the necessary documents for Russian citizenship.
“We are still gathering all the necessary papers… That will take some time to fulfill all the [Russian] government requirements,” Champion said. Earlier, Champion also explained that Garre was likely to give up his Argentinian citizenship to get the Russian passport.
Garre is the grandson of the 1986 FIFA World Cup winner, Oscar Garre, and has represented Argentina at junior level, winning bronze at the 2015 U15 South American Championship.
In 2018, the player signed with the English club Manchester City. In 2020, he returned to Argentina and joined Racing Club de Avellaneda before moving to Club Atletico Huracan on loan. In January, Garre moved to Krylia Sovetov Samara on a €1.75 million ($1.92 million) transfer.
