A 13-year-old Ukrainian karate athlete has drawn international attention after silently refusing to join a group photo with a Russian competitor at a major youth tournament in Spain.
Yevhenii Melnyk was competing in the under-45kg category at the Youth Karate League in Guadalajara, where he secured a bronze medal alongside Spain’s Beltran Tamargo Salgado.
Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Albishi won silver, while Igor Grigorev—representing Russia under a neutral flag—claimed gold.
Following the medal ceremony, the athletes were invited for the traditional group photo. However, Melnyk quietly declined.
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He gave a brief nod, then turned away from the podium, signalling his refusal to participate.
An official attempted to persuade him to return, but Melnyk firmly gestured in protest and stayed off the stage.
The incident was caught on video and quickly spread online. Applause could be heard in the footage, and social media users praised the teenager’s firm stance.
A Ukrainian Instagram page, Karate Project, shared the clip, captioning it “no photos with terrorists,” reflecting ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia since the 2022 invasion.
Melnyk’s gesture is part of a wider pattern among Ukrainian athletes distancing themselves from Russian opponents.
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Tennis players such as Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina have made similar stands, refusing handshakes or making symbolic statements during international events.
Despite being allowed to compete under neutral status, Russian and Belarusian athletes continue to face backlash.
The broader sporting community remains divided, but the response to Melnyk has been largely supportive.
Many have hailed him as a symbol of national pride and quiet resistance, especially as the war enters its third year.
While some critics viewed the act as unsporting, most saw it as a powerful personal and political message from a young athlete unwilling to compromise his values.
