Bidny: I See No Legal Grounds to Strip Bubka of 'Hero of Ukraine' Title

During a press conference titled 'The Future of Ukrainian Sports' held in Kyiv on Thursday, Matviy Bidny, the Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, addressed the ongoing discussions regarding the status of Serhiy Bubka, the former president of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine. Bidny emphasized that he does not see any legally significant grounds for stripping Bubka of his title of 'Hero of Ukraine.' Despite this, he urged Bubka, as a representative of the International Olympic Committee, to take a more vocal stance in support of Ukraine.

Bidny pointed out that Ukraine has a legal system that outlines clear procedures for both awarding and revoking the title of 'Hero of Ukraine.' He stated, 'We live in a rule of law state, and all actions must be carried out in accordance with legislative norms. As of today, I have not seen any legally significant grounds to initiate the question of stripping him of such a title,' the minister underscored.

Furthermore, Bidny expressed hope that Bubka would more actively voice his support for Ukraine. 'I would like to see a larger number of people who have been awarded the title of 'Hero of Ukraine' and other state awards actively highlighting their positions. Indeed, I would like all of them to speak out loudly about this,' Bidny remarked.

The minister also stressed that Bubka's silence should not be a reason for revoking his title. 'Is such silence on his part a basis for stripping him of the title of 'Hero of Ukraine'? I think not,' he said.

Bidny added that if real evidence arises, as discussed in the media, and there is a reliable assessment from law enforcement agencies, then the question of revoking Bubka's title could be reconsidered. 'Until then, we should not allow ourselves to act emotionally; we need to act thoughtfully,' he emphasized.

It is worth noting that earlier, Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Geraskevych submitted a petition on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers calling for Bubka to be stripped of his title of 'Hero of Ukraine' and for sanctions to be imposed against him. Geraskevych also urged members of parliament to assist in imposing sanctions on Bubka and revoking his title during his speech in the Verkhovna Rada.

In September 2023, Bubka stated that he has no connection to businesses in the occupied territories. Meanwhile, in December 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky stripped several Olympic, Paralympic, and Deaflympic medalists and champions of state scholarships, including Bubka.