---
title: "\"900 euros is too much, but business class isn't\": Chepurnyi publicly criticizes Ukraine's Ministry and Gymnastics Federation"
description: "Ukrainian gymnast Nazar Chepurnyi, in an open statement, accused the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the UGF of refusing to pay 900 euros for a training camp, noting that the German Gymnastics Federation was the one that helped him."
date: 2026-08-27T06:56:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/chepurnyi-criticizes-ministry-and-gymnastics-federation
tags: [gymnastics, ukraine, nazar-chepurny, ufg, german-federation, sports-funding]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "900 euros is too much, but business class isn't": Chepurnyi publicly criticizes Ukraine's Ministry and Gymnastics Federation

![Ukraine national gymnast on parallel bars: Chepurnyi publicly criticizes the Gymnastics Federation and Ministry](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/27/chepurnyj-kritika-ministerstva-i-federacii-gimnastiki/chepurnyj-kritika-ministerstva-i-federacii-gimnastiki-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Chepurnyi accused the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the UGF of refusing to cover the costs of the training camp in Kinbaum (900 euros)
- The German Gymnastics Federation voluntarily took over the payment for the Ukrainian athlete's official camp
- The gymnast publicly thanked coach Sartytskyi and the German side, but not the UGF or the Ministry
- Chepurnyi's statement fits into a broader context of conflict between Ukrainian gymnasts and the UGF leadership

Ukrainian gymnast Nazar Chepurnyi, in an open statement on Facebook, delivered sharp criticism of Ukraine's Ministry of Youth and Sport and the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation (UGF), accusing domestic sports bodies of a systemic lack of support in the lead-up to major competitions. According to the athlete, it was the German Gymnastics Federation that voluntarily covered the expenses that Ukrainian authorities failed to fund despite repeated appeals. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing Chepurnyi's own post.

### Preparing amid financial uncertainty

As the gymnast explained, due to the lack of adequate training conditions in Ukraine, he was forced to travel to Germany for preparation just one and a half months before the European Championships. Chepurnyi claims that he repeatedly approached domestic sports bodies asking them to cover the costs of the training camp, but only received "empty promises" in return. As a result, he paid out of his own pocket for the first half of his preparation — including accommodation, food, fuel, and other related expenses.

### The 900-euro issue and help from the German side

The central point of the conflict was the payment for the official training camp in Kinbaum, which cost 900 euros. According to Chepurnyi, Ukrainian authorities again failed to provide the necessary funds. Learning of the Ukrainian gymnast's difficult situation, the German Gymnastics Federation voluntarily took over the cost of his official camp. "It's a shame that 900 euros to prepare an athlete for the European Championships turns out to be too much. Yet at the same time, Federation members can afford to fly business class," Chepurnyi wrote in his statement.

### "Don't be surprised" — on changing sporting nationality

In his remarks, the gymnast directly linked the financial indifference of domestic bodies to the growing number of Ukrainian athletes who are beginning to consider changing their sporting nationality. "And then everyone is surprised why athletes start thinking about changing their sporting nationality. Don't be surprised," he emphasized. Chepurnyi also added that "shouting about victory louder than anyone" when you have done nothing to achieve the result is a "worthless position."

### Gratitude without the Federation and the Ministry

Wrapping up, the athlete listed those to whom he is truly indebted for his result: "For this result, I want to thank exclusively my coach Hennadii Lyovych Sartytskyi, the German Gymnastics Federation, Rolandos, and my close family who were by my side and supported me. But by no means the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation or the Ministry of Youth and Sport." It was previously reported that Chepurnyi won the European Championships for the first time in his career, which makes his public statement all the more resonant for the Ukrainian sports community.

### Broader context: a systemic conflict in Ukrainian gymnastics

Chepurnyi's statement is not an isolated incident. According to several Ukrainian and Russian sports outlets, open conflict has been growing in Ukrainian gymnastics between active athletes and the UGF leadership. It was previously reported that a group of Ukrainian gymnasts expressed disagreement with the federation's decisions, including issues related to a coach's suspension, and even considered boycotting the European Championships. In this context, Chepurnyi's public statement is perceived as part of a broader crisis of trust between athletes and the country's sports structures.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [They didn't even provide 900 euros: gymnast Chepurnyi hits out hard at the Ministry and the Federation](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/othersport/vidali-navit-900-evro-gimnast-chepurniy-zhorstko-1787812346.html) - Первичный источник: пересказ публикации Чепурного в Facebook. Все прямые цитаты и факты (900 евро, Кинбаум, Немецкая федерация, тренер Сартынский) взяты из данного материала.
- [Behind the scenes of Ukrainian gymnastics: Nazar Chepurnyi on victories, difficulties, and Kovtun's choice](https://kp.ua/sport/a713096-za-kulisami-ukrainskoj-himnastiki-nazar-chepurnyj-o-pobedakh-trudnostjakh-i-vybore-kovtuna) - Дополнительный контекст о трудностях и победах Чепурного, подтверждает общую картину конфликта со спортивными структурами.
- ["If Russia returns, we want to compete against it." Ukrainian gymnasts go against the UGF](https://www.sovsport.ru/gymnastic/articles/esli-rossiya-vernyotsya-my-hotim-s-nej-sorevnovatsya-ukrainskie-gimnasty-poshli-protiv-ufg) - Подтверждает системный характер конфликта между украинскими гимнастами и УФГ, в который вписывается заявление Чепурного.
- [Ukrainian gymnasts ready to boycott the European Championships over a coach's suspension](https://zn.ua/SPORT/ukrainskie-himnasty-hotovy-bojkotirovat-chempionat-evropy-iz-za-otstranenija-trenera.html) - Дополнительный контекст о готовности гимнастов к бойкоту и конфликте с федерацией по вопросу отстранения тренера.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What exactly was Chepurnyi unable to obtain from Ukrainian sports bodies?
**A:** According to the gymnast, the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation did not cover the costs of the training camp, including the 900 euros for the official camp in Kinbaum, nor did they help with accommodation, food, and fuel during the first half of his preparation.

### Q: Who paid for Chepurnyi's training camp?
**A:** The German Gymnastics Federation voluntarily took over the cost of the Ukrainian athlete's official camp after learning of his difficult financial situation.

### Q: Who did Chepurnyi thank for his result?
**A:** The gymnast thanked his coach Hennadii Lyovych Sartytskyi, the German Gymnastics Federation, Rolandos, as well as his close family. He explicitly stated that he does not thank the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation or the Ministry of Youth and Sport.

### Q: Is Chepurnyi's statement an isolated case?
**A:** No. According to Ukrainian and Russian sports outlets, open conflict has been growing in Ukrainian gymnastics between athletes and the UGF leadership, including issues of coach suspensions and discussions of a possible boycott of competitions.