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RUSSIAN FOOTBALL, “KALINKA-MALINKA,” AND THE NORMALIZATION OF AN AGGRESSOR STATE. SHAME! While Russia continues to kill Ukrainians, torture prisoners of war, abduct children, and destroy entire cities, Russian athletes are greeted with applause in international football stadiums, and their victories are celebrated to the sound of “Kalinka-Malinka.” At Galatasaray’s stadium in Turkey, “Kalinka” plays after goals scored by Russian footballer Alexey Batrakov — a melody that Russian state propaganda has used for decades to promote a romanticized image of Russia. Are you serious? In 2026? During Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine? And this is not just about a song. It is about how international sport becomes a space for normalizing a state that violates international law every single day. Russia has long used sport and culture as instruments of soft power and state propaganda. Sporting victories, national melodies, and cheering crowds can all help create a positive image of a country, detached from its political crimes. This is how sportswashing works — laundering a country’s reputation through sport. While Ukrainian athletes are dying defending their country, and some remain in Russian captivity, Russian footballers receive international recognition, and Russian symbols become part of the celebrations. Where is the remembrance of Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia? Where is the international attention for those who survived Russian torture chambers? Where is the solidarity with civilians whom Russia has illegally detained for years? Why are Russian sporting achievements met with applause, while the stories of Ukrainian victims must be brought back into the international spotlight again and again? Propaganda does not operate through lies alone. It operates through symbols, emotions, repetition, and gradual normalization. Today, “Kalinka-Malinka” in a stadium is just a cheerful melody. Tomorrow, Russian symbolism will once again seem normal. And the day after tomorrow, someone will ask why Russia should remain isolated at all. That is precisely why sport cannot automatically be considered separate from politics. I am not claiming that every football fan supports the Kremlin. But international sporting organizations, clubs, and event organizers must understand the political context of the symbols they promote. Shame on such indifference. Shame on the normalization of Russia through international sport. Russia cannot simultaneously demand international applause for its sporting victories and evade accountability for war crimes. While Ukrainian athletes and civilians remain in Russian captivity, the world has no right to forget what lies behind the carefully polished image of Russian triumph. #Sportswashing #RussianPropaganda #Kalinka #Galatasaray #ChampionsLeague #RussianWarCrimes #UkrainianPOWs #SportInCaptivity #JusticeForUkraine #StandWithUkraine