Ukrainian diver Sofia Lyskun has changed her citizenship and will now compete under the Russian flag. Lyskun, a participant in two Olympic Games, has decided to represent Russia. This step comes in the third year of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
Redaksiya, citing Unian, reports that Lyskun stated she accepted Russian citizenship due to alleged "problems with coaches." A few months ago, Lyskun was competing under the Ukrainian flag in international competitions. At the 2025 European Championships, she won a gold medal in mixed team events and a silver medal in synchronized diving.
According to Lyskun, professional standards were not being observed in Ukraine, and she was criticized for her connections with her former coach who moved to Moscow and for her interactions with Russian athletes. Lyskun stated in an interview with the Russian press that the 23-year-old athlete is originally from occupied Luhansk and went to neighboring Poland because she could not train in Kyiv. Lyskun has won 12 medals in world and European championships as part of the Ukrainian national team.