Famous Russian boxer, Olympic champion Alexander Povetkin made a harsh statement against blogger and rapper Akim Apachev, inviting him to enter the ring. The reason for the challenge was an incident in the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region, where Apachev had previously provoked a conflict with local residents. Povetkin, commenting on the blogger's behavior, emphasized the inadmissibility of such actions in a territory that is of particular importance to the region and the country. The athlete's statement was published on his Telegram channel on the evening of March 23, 2025, and has already caused a wide resonance in society. 

In his address, Povetkin noted that he considers it unacceptable to arrange showdowns with civilians, especially with women, who expressed dissatisfaction with Apachev’s actions.

"Such behavior is a sign of weakness and cowardice. If Akim wants to show his courage, let him accept my challenge and try to hold out in the ring for at least half a minute. I am ready to personally show him how to respect the places where the blood of our soldiers was spilled, liberating this land," — the boxer wrote.

Povetkin, a native of Kursk and an honorary citizen of the Kursk region, particularly emphasized his connection with the region, pointing out the need to take care of its history and residents. 

The conflict that prompted this statement flared up after Akim Apachev visited Sudzha, which had been liberated from Ukrainian troops, and left graffiti with provocative inscriptions, some of which contained obscene language, on the walls of buildings and fences. These actions provoked the indignation of local residents, who considered them offensive and inappropriate in a city that had experienced military action. In response to criticism, Apachev invited the dissatisfied to "come and paint over" his drawings, and in personal correspondence with some residents even scheduled meetings to sort things out and made threats. Such behavior only added fuel to the fire, increasing public indignation. 

The situation around Apachev has already attracted the attention of the authorities. Acting Governor of Kursk Oblast Alexander Khinshtein previously stated that the blogger would be brought to administrative responsibility for violating the ban on entry into the border zone established by the operational headquarters, as well as for damage to property and vandalism. Khinshtein called Apachev's actions "PR on blood" and called on him to show courage not on social networks, but in real conditions. According to the official, statements to law enforcement agencies are already being prepared, and a response will follow in the near future. 

Sudzha was liberated by Russian troops after several months under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which captured the city in August 2024. Local residents have lived through difficult times, including shelling and destruction, which makes them especially sensitive to any provocations. According to the Vedomosti newspaper, Apachev, known as the author of songs related to military themes, positioned his actions as "creativity in the frontline zone", but this did not find support from either the population or officials. Moreover, the WarGonzo Telegram channel, which published a video with graffiti, became one of the platforms where the conflict began to gain momentum. 

The public reaction to Povetkin's challenge has been mixed. Social media is actively discussing whether Apachev will accept the offer of a boxer whose professional career includes world champion titles and victories over the strongest heavyweights. Some users believe that the blogger is unlikely to agree to a fight with such an experienced opponent, while others are sure that he may try to use the situation for additional PR. Meanwhile, Apachev himself has already managed to apologize to the residents of Sudzha, stating that he is ready to take responsibility for his actions, but has not yet commented on Povetkin's challenge.