Despite having lived there for over three decades, Alexey Oliynyk is not allowed to return to his native Ukraine.
The heavyweight, who received Russian citizenship shortly following his UFC debut, explained to Russian sports outlet MK that he is banned from entering the country.
“Actually, I only have one sentence about what happened: it is absurd. Power in the Ukraine has been illegally invaded by criminals, and now they’re doing what they want. And if I can be there or not be, because I’m so there is rarely visited.
“It would be better if they took care of the welfare of the citizens, and brought him back at least to the level that was before. Now they are engaged in populist things, trying to make people respect evil characters.”
The fighter received a letter from the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture, which branded him a “threat to national security,” which he felt wasn’t surprising because of the party that is in power in the country.
“When it becomes necessary, I will still go there, because it is my duty. I have buried my father, grandmother, and grandfather there. I’m flattered that [the government] noticed me.”
