Former Ukrainian athlete and world sumo champion convicted for helping the Russian army

The former Ukrainian athlete has repeatedly appeared in propaganda media, broadcasting pro-Russian narratives into the information space of Crimea

The former Ukrainian athlete from Crimea has been convicted for helping the Russian army. She was sentenced in absentia to up to 12 years behind bars.

This was reported by the Prosecutor General's Office.

The convict is a former Ukrainian athlete and multiple European and world champion in sumo, who began performing as part of the Russian national team in 2016. Law enforcement officers do not name her, but the details of the case and photos indicate that she is sumo wrestler Olga Davydko.

The court proved that in 2023 she founded and led a volunteer movement in Crimea. She held numerous fundraisers to purchase diesel generators, walkie-talkies, thermal imagers, and other resources for Russian servicemen who were fighting against Ukraine, in particular in the city of Bakhmut.

At the same time, the information and report on the fundraising by the «volunteer» was distributed on the Telegram channel and on personal pages on social networks.

In addition, the former Ukrainian athlete repeatedly appeared in propaganda media, broadcasting pro-Russian narratives into the information space of Crimea. She also stated the need for the Russian army to assist in conducting the so-called «SVO» and «protection of the peninsula from the Armed Forces of Ukraine».

A former Ukrainian athlete from Crimea was found guilty of aiding an aggressor state — Part 1 of Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. She was sentenced in absentia to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.