STATEMENT OF UKRAINIAN CHESS FEDERATION
Dear Chess Friends,
Due to reports of ongoing efforts to create division within European chess, including the use of our federationโs name to disseminate misinformation and manipulate European federations, we consider it necessary to state the following.
The European Chess Union (ECU) is the only European sports federation of which Russia is no longer a member. During the past four years of suffering endured by our country, the current ECU administration, led by Mr Zurab Azmaiparashvili, has consistently supported Ukraineโs human and sporting rights through both official statements and concrete actions.
ECU Secretary General Mr Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou was among the first international sports officials to visit Ukraine in 2023. In 2025, ECU Vice President Mr Malcolm Pein also visited Ukraine to express his support. No other representatives of the international chess community have visited Ukraine during the four years of the illegal invasion.
As part of the same team, the Presidents of the German and Norwegian Chess Federations, Mrs Ingrid Lauterbach and Mr Lasse Lรธvvik, have actively supported our rights and, together with our federation, appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following the FIDE General Assembly in December 2025. The Romanian Chess Federation and Mr Vlad Ardeleanu are co-organisers and partners of the Kasparov Chess Foundation in conducting elite chess events. Both the Kasparov Chess Foundation and the Romanian Chess Federation consistently support the Ukrainian people and operate independently of Russian funding.
We openly support the European team “ECU 2030” and remain committed to working together for Europe, shoulder to shoulder. The Ukrainian Chess Federation will not allow any attempts to divide Europe. Furthermore, we will use all available lawful means to expose such efforts and those responsible for them.
President of the Federation
Oleksandr KAMYSHIN
