Sport is not the easiest way to evade mobilization – Ukrainian sports minister Bidny

11:57, 26.01.2026 1 min read

Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Matviy Bidny has said that he believes that it is difficult to use the sphere of sports to evade military mobilization.

"No, it is extremely difficult to do so here. Our national teams make up the largest number of those who are currently reserved in the sphere of sports," Bidny said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency, answering the question of whether he observes manipulations with evasion of mobilization in the sphere of sports.

He noted that, firstly, it is impossible to get there if you have any problems with military registration, and secondly, you cannot get into the national team from the street, you have to go through selection at all-Ukrainian or international competitions, and random people simply cannot be there.

"You have to make a lot of effort: win at regional competitions, win the Ukrainian championship, or at least get into the top three. I think this is not the easiest way to dodge the draft," the minister stated.