Vladislav Ivanov, a Russian tennis player, has come under scrutiny for his social media activity showing support for Russia's attack on Ukraine. Ivanov has been observed liking posts endorsing the military aggression on various social media platforms, including a post by propagandist Margarita Simonyan, accompanied by another propagandist, Tigran Keosayan. They justified Russia's war against Ukraine, claiming it is a "special operation" aimed at "suppressing bloody Nazis," despite the absence of actual Nazis in Ukraine.

His engagement with content promoting the attack on Ukraine has sparked outrage and ignited a fierce debate about the ethical responsibility of Russian athletes. Ivanov's actions have raised questions about the influence of athletes as public figures and the consequences of their endorsements. This incident sheds light on the complex intersection of sports, nationalism, and the role of athletes as public figures in Russia.