Russian figure skating news in 2026

[TAHbKA]

Enbert interviewing Tutberidze

 

[rfisher]

Jr test skates are next week.

 

[Sylvia]

AIN 2 entries for Xian JGP
Lev Lazarev
Elena Kostyleva
Maria Fefelova / Andrei Valov (ice dance)
Polina Shesheleva / Egor Karnaukhov (pairs)

Subs
Arseniy Fedotov
Sofia Dzepka
Victoria Streltsova

Final decision will be made after test skates

Will the Junior test skates (July 28-31 in Novogorsk) be livestreamed?

Russia's allocated JGP spots:
#1 Xi'ian City CHN: 1 man, 1 woman, 1 pair, 1 dance team
#3 Bangkok THA: 1 man, 1 woman, 1 dance team
#4 Ankara TUR: 1 pair
#7 Gdansk POL: 1 pair

Cross-posting here from the Programs & Choreographers thread:

Trusova-Ignatova released a trailer announcing her LP music (Stranger Things)

Sasha Trusova on Instagram: "Боишься — не делай, делаешь — не бойся.(с) Произвольная программа 2026-2027"

13K likes, 219 comments - avtrusova on July 23, 2026: "Боишься — не делай, делаешь — не бойся.(с) Произвольная программа 2026-2027".

www.instagram.com

 

[rfisher]

Will the Junior test skates (July 28-31 in Novogorsk) be livestreamed?

Russia's allocated JGP spots:
#1 Xi'ian City CHN: 1 man, 1 woman, 1 pair, 1 dance team
#3 Bangkok THA: 1 man, 1 woman, 1 dance team
#4 Ankara TUR: 1 pair
#7 Gdansk POL: 1 pair

Cross-posting here from the Programs & Choreographers thread:

They typically are via Channel1 or the federation's YouTube channel. Neither require a VPN (or haven't in the past). I'll post a link when one comes available.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Турнир шоу-программ «Русский вызов» 2026. Первый канал

Идея турнира шоу-программ, в котором соревнуются действующие и завершившие карьеру фигуристы, принадлежит Александру Жулину. Участники выступают с поставленным специально для турнира номером без разбивки на одиночное и парное катание или танцы на льду. Допускаются все желающие, чья заявка...

1tv.ru

According to Alex Breeze on Goldenskate
Update from RIA

The event on 28-31 July won't be public. It will be held only for JGP candidates.

And the usual broadcasted test skates will take place in August.

Ice Dance - 3-6 August
Pairs - 13-16 August
Singles - 17-20 August

 

[spin2win]

A number of Russian JGP test skates. No stream but channel1 had Anna Shcherbakova there to present segments of short programs/RDs and skater interviews from what I could find

Men--
Arseniy Fedotov (they showed some choreo/spins, a 3A and 3F+3T): https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083174639493120447?s=20
Lev Lazarev (apparently plans to compete in senior within russia, as a show of strength he did 4F+3T, 3A, 4Lz; also some choreo/spins): https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083175097104249006?s=20

Women--
Sofia Dzepka (also competing senior within russia, they showed 3Lz, some choreo/spins, and falling on 3F for a combo error): https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083177217085890707?s=20
Elena Kostyleva (they showed 3A+3T, popping 3Lz, choreo/spins): https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083178715895189988?s=20
Victoria Streltsova (no interview, but they showed choreo/spins, 3A+3T, and popping 3Lz as well at the beginning of this video): https://www.reddit.com/r/FigureSkating/s/rpKpWygI4Z

Dance--
Fefelova/Valov: https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083181187388911880?s=20
Pestova/Lagutov: https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083187925047476429?s=20

Pairs--
Shesheleva/Karnaukhov: https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083188651337392291?s=20

 

[Ka3sha]

Dzepka

 

[spin2win]

Laundry list of news/information:

• Kamila Valieva has gone to France to work with Benoit Richaud and Alexei Mishin, she will bootcamp and refine her programs there according to her coach Sokolovskaya
• (RIA Novosti) The JGP test skates concluded and selected were Kostyleva, Lazarev, Fefelova/Valov, Shesheleva/Karnaukhov for Xi'an. If they get top 3, they will get second assignment, otherwise they will assign someone else
• (Vlad Zhukov) Federation happy with programs, only men had uncertainty -- they preferred Fedotov's programs/skating/artistry but Lazarev has overwhelming tech advantage

Channel1 again had same setup of Shcherbakova commenting on segments of free skates and interviewing some skaters

Women--
Elena Kostyleva ("Black Swan", she showed 2 3A's, a 4S, a 3S, and popped a 4T into 3T): https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083538902279754238?s=20

• she gave remarks afterwards: her planned free layout will have 2 3A's, 2 4S's, a 4T, and a lutz; Plushenko told her to not do combos; they are working to shorten jump run-ups/telegraphing, transitions, and spins (that she apparently didn't train entire offseason due to injury)
• there is rumor she tried a lutz again and it didn't come off, but no video from channel1

Victoria Streltsova ("The Firebird", showed 4S, 4S+3T, 3A, 3Lz+2A+Eu+3S, popped 4T, she gave an interview today suggested it was okay for first start but mistakes made): https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083543951701676441?s=20

Sofia Dzepka (music from the Matrix movie, showed 4T, 3Lz+Eu+3S+2A, lots of nice choreo and spins, long interview after): https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083545016329289785?s=20

Men--
Arseniy Fedotov (think it's Umbrellas of Cherbourg, showed 4S, 4Lo, 3A, step out of 4T, 3Lz+Eu+3S+2A, nice choreo and spins): https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083546520217903574?s=20

Lev Lazarev (not sure what music is, showed 4F, 4Lz, 4S, 4Lz+Eu+3S+2A, 4T+3T, 3Lz, fall in choreo sequence): https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083547048113062394?s=20
- very fast rotator to get quads off and arms always above head; choreo/spins/artistry is area for improvement

Dance--
Fefelova/Valov (nice looking elements shown, they were hard on themselves in interview especially about the RD and the federation agreed with their take): https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083550114023460982?s=20
Drozhzina/Telnov (not much shown, mostly interview): https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083548118503604336?s=20
Pestova/Lagutov (this sounded like nathan chen's Mao's Last Dancer program + a Firebird remix?): https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083551256455331857?s=20

Pairs--
Guseva/Ovchinnikov: https://x.com/majuskating/status/2083566135316709438?s=20
(no footage for other pairs)

 

[Sylvia]

July 1:

Gummenik posted on his instagram that he completed the staging of his SP with Shae Lynn Bourne

His Aug. 1 post thanking Arutunian (2nd photo with Ilia & Shae-Lynn):

Petr Gumennik on Instagram: "Дорогой Рафаэль Владимирович, я благодарю Вас за Вашу помощь мне в подготовке к сезону, за внимание, за то насколько Вы искренне, щедро и бескорыстно делитесь своим многолетним опытом, своими открытиями в технике фигурног

29K likes, 173 comments - petr_og on August 1, 2026: "Дорогой Рафаэль Владимирович, я благодарю Вас за Вашу помощь мне в подготовке к сезону, за внимание, за то насколько Вы искренне, щедро и бескорыстно делитесь своим многолетним опытом, своими открытиями в технике фигурного катания. Как...

www.instagram.com

He and Liza Tuktamysheva visited Antelope Canyon, in Page, Arizona back in June and she also posted photos in late June from Hawaii with him on her Insta.

 

[Karen-W]

July 1:

His Aug. 1 post thanking Arutunian (2nd photo with Ilia & Shae-Lynn):

Petr Gumennik on Instagram: "Дорогой Рафаэль Владимирович, я благодарю Вас за Вашу помощь мне в подготовке к сезону, за внимание, за то насколько Вы искренне, щедро и бескорыстно делитесь своим многолетним опытом, своими открытиями в технике фигурног

29K likes, 173 comments - petr_og on August 1, 2026: "Дорогой Рафаэль Владимирович, я благодарю Вас за Вашу помощь мне в подготовке к сезону, за внимание, за то насколько Вы искренне, щедро и бескорыстно делитесь своим многолетним опытом, своими открытиями в технике фигурного катания. Как...

www.instagram.com

He and Liza Tuktamysheva visited Antelope Canyon, in Page, Arizona back in June and she also posted photos in late June from Hawaii with him on her Insta.

They also visited the High Sierras and Yosemite at some point during their time here in the US - there was a picture of him under a towering redwood. There was another one of early summer skiing, so I think they were at Mammoth (quick Google search says the Mammoth ski season ended on June 7 while the Tahoe ski season ended in early May).

 

[spin2win]

Latest AIN approvals

Matvey Vetlugin, Nikolai Ugozhaev, Evgeni Semenenko, Daria Sadkova, Ekaterina Mironova, Evgeni Ustenko, Andrei Mozalev, Mark Kondratiuk (???), Gleb Lutfullin, Ekaterina Rybakova/Ivan Makhnonosov, Kamila Nelyubova, Elizaveta Grigorieva, Evgeni Artyushchenko, Vasilisa Kaganovskaya/Maxim Nekrasov

 

[Vagabond]

Mark Kondratiuk (???)

!!! How is that even possible?

 

[ChelleC]

I think we should brace ourselves that pretty everyone submitted for AIN status is going to get it.

 

[Amy L]

Maya Bagriantseva explained it in a way that means pretty much all skaters have to do is sign the forms and they get in. It's up to other people to provide proof to the ISU to take them off the list, but getting ON the list is easy.

 

[Taso]

Maya Bagriantseva explained it in a way that means pretty much all skaters have to do is sign the forms and they get in. It's up to other people to provide proof to the ISU to take them off the list, but getting ON the list is easy.

Thank you for this verification.

 

[Karen-W]

Maya Bagriantseva explained it in a way that means pretty much all skaters have to do is sign the forms and they get in. It's up to other people to provide proof to the ISU to take them off the list, but getting ON the list is easy.

Exactly who is supposed to provide proof to the ISU? Can fans tag the ISU on social media and make them review photographic proof from skaters' own social media? Or is it up to federations or other skaters & officials?

 

[Vagabond]

This is like relying on athletes to certify that they do not use performance-enhancing drugs.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I think we should brace ourselves that pretty everyone submitted for AIN status is going to get it.

A lot of us said that this is what would happen...

 

[Lanie]

I wonder if there is a way to contact the ISU to complain about this though they don't care.

 

[Amy L]

Exactly who is supposed to provide proof to the ISU? Can fans tag the ISU on social media and make them review photographic proof from skaters' own social media? Or is it up to federations or other skaters & officials?

Bagriantseva didn't mention any of that, but she's more than a little biased. I remember her being confused about why MishGal should be banned from the Olympics. The ISU of course didn't release any guidelines about this (reporting process) and I assume they are hoping to make it so opaque and hectic that no one will be able to do anything about it.

 

[PRlady]

If I were more energetic, I’d suggest that we retirees gather the publicly available evidence and submit it to the ISU…possibly publicly as well so they can’t ignore it. With well-written commentary.

Fortunately for Russian skaters I’m not up for that, maybe someone with closer links to TPTB will do it.

 

[Karen-W]

If I were more energetic, I’d suggest that we retirees gather the publicly available evidence and submit it to the ISU…possibly publicly as well so they can’t ignore it. With well-written commentary.

Fortunately for Russian skaters I’m not up for that, maybe someone with closer links to TPTB will do it.

I've tagged the ISU's FS account on X in two different posts questioning why Kondratiuk was granted AIN status. It isn't hard to do something that simple on any of social media platforms.

 

[Ka3sha]

Should she get her AIN status in time, Trusova plans to make her return to competition at the Kinoshita Trophy (according to Vlad Zhukov)

 

[Ka3sha]

Sport Express named planned AIN entries for Kinoshita (in case everyone get AIN statuses in time)

https://www.sport-express.ru/figure-skating/news/stala-izvestna-planiruemaya-zayavka-sbornoy-rossii-po-figurnomu-kataniyu-na-chellendzher-v-yaponii-2444485/

Gumennik, Semenenko, Kondratiuk
Trusova, Valieva, Zakharova
Boikova/Kozlovskii, Mishina/Gallyamov, Chikmareva/Yanchenkov
Kaganovskaya/Nekrasov, Mironova/Ustenko, Pasechnik/Chirizano


Upd. Sokolovskaya denied Valieva’s plans to participate

 

[PRlady]

B/K and M/G make a mockery of the supposed standard for AIN participation, in addition to Kondratiuk.

 

[Ka3sha]

I might be totally wrong, but I don’t remember B/K at any political events or rallies. They have only participated in the infamous Pluschenko’s show, and back then Boikova was one of the only two skaters (the second one was Liza Tuktamysheva) who publicly said that they were not aware of the situation / context.

Kozlovskii is of course a narcissist and douchebag, but not that it counts..

 

[PRlady]

I thought I saw Kozlivskii fanboy Putin but I could be wrong.

 

[Karen-W]

I thought I saw Kozlivskii fanboy Putin but I could be wrong.

If he is, he's done an excellent job of keeping those views private and off of social media.

 

[BittyBug]

If Valieva is a neutral athlete then the moon is made of cheese.

 

[rfisher]

Kostornaia/Kunitsa are competing this season so I assume they are not leaving Russia. They are looking forward to the 2030 Olympics per her IG. They made remarkable progress prior to last season so I hope they pick up where they left off pre-baby.

 

[Alilou]

Kondratuik with Putin

Skating Stan on Instagram: "A new group of Russian skaters have been approved to compete internationally. According to the ISU, a skater or member of Athlete Support Personnel is not eligible to participate as a neutral athlete where they: (a) are

899 likes, 49 comments - fs.skatingstan on August 4, 2026: "A new group of Russian skaters have been approved to compete internationally. According to the ISU, a skater or member of Athlete Support Personnel is not eligible to participate as a neutral athlete where they: (a) are in active...

www.instagram.com