Scandal in Oman: Vadim Oliinyk's business empire and details of the sea turtle incident

A few days ago, a video clip appeared online that quickly gained international attention. The footage, shot on the coast of Oman, features Ukrainian fitness trainer Vadim Oliinyk and his companion Olena Kravchenko. The man and woman are seen posing on the shell of a sea turtle, while in other fragments they are next to hatchlings. The clip was actively shared by environmental organisations and social media users, turning the tourists into objects of public criticism.

Violations of rules in a protected area

The incident took place in the Ras Al Jinz area, which is known as one of the key sea turtle nesting sites in Oman. During this period, the egg-laying season is ongoing on the coast. According to the Omani Environment Authority, in 2026, authorities have strengthened control over such areas and call on visitors not to disturb the animals. Official rules for protected areas explicitly prohibit disturbing nests, approaching them, touching eggs, or moving them.

The nesting season in 2026 began at the end of May, with the peak falling in June–September, while the hatching period lasts approximately from August to December. Conservationists emphasised that tourists' behaviour could harm the animals and reported that they had contacted the relevant authorities. The Omani Environment Authority confirmed that legal measures had been taken against the individual who disturbed the turtles in the Ras Al Hadd protected zone.

Career from combat sambo to the international stage

Vadim Oliinyk is from Odesa and has built his public image around sports, calisthenics, and fitness. According to dossier data, he started exercising in childhood: he trained in combat sambo from the age of four, took up calisthenics at nine, and switched to street workout at 15. After a head injury at 17, doctors advised him to give up combat sports, so the athlete focused on bodyweight training.

In 2011–2012, Oliinyk moved to Poland, where he continued his studies. By 2013, he had entered the international street workout arena. Among his achievements that year were second place at the WSWCF World Championship in Riga, second place at the Ventspils Baltic Championship, and fourth place at the World Cup Norway. He also worked as a judge at the Estonian workout championship.

In 2014, the athlete took fourth place at the official WSWCF World Championship and came third at the Pull and Push competition in Paris. Gradually, he began shifting his focus from a competitive career to coaching and media activities.

Business empire and media influence

Between 2015 and 2018, Oliinyk developed his own training programmes, YouTube channel, and social media presence, holding workshops in various countries. By 2019, he positioned himself as a trainer and international judge. One notable event was his victory at the King of the Bar tournament at the FIBO exhibition in Cologne in 2015. In an interview with GORNATION, he mentioned that his weight at the time was around 90 kg.

Later, the athlete took up CrossFit, which, according to him, led to severe physical exhaustion and nearly two weeks of hospital treatment. He also denied rumours about steroid use, explaining his gynecomastia as a hormonal disorder that occurred around the age of 12. At the same time, Oliinyk acknowledged using fat burners and pre-workout supplements, specifically T5, which contains caffeine, aspirin, and ephedrine, after which, he said, he experienced problems with his nervous system.

Today, Oliinyk earns not only from sports achievements. He has a paid course on Udemy, where he positions himself as a world champion in calisthenics. In 2024, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine involved him in the OlympicLab educational project in Vylkove, where he conducted classes for students of a sports school. The NOC referred to him as a two-time world workout champion, a Guinness record holder, and an international-class trainer. In 2026, the World Street Workout & Calisthenics Federation inducted him into the WSWCF Hall of Fame during the World Championship in Riga.

Connections with Russia and position after 2022

A separate block of information concerns Oliinyk's activities in the Russian environment. In 2018, he participated in a sports event in Russia, where he was photographed wearing a T-shirt with the Russian flag. The event's sponsor was the "Russian Copper Company". Oliinyk conducted a master class for Russian athletes and spoke positively about his participation in the championship. The dossier also records contacts with people whose social media contained posts from Russia, Moscow, and occupied Crimea.

However, the situation changed after the start of the full-scale invasion. In February 2022, Oliinyk published posts about the war, stating that he was at a position related to the defence of the city with five friends and asking for help. His profile had a tag that could indicate a connection to territorial defence. Therefore, it would be incorrect to draw definitive conclusions about his position based solely on old photos from Russia.

Since August 2023, his social media have predominantly shown life abroad: Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia. His profile states "Coach Abu Dhabi", indicating a professional link to the UAE. In March 2026, he registered a sole proprietorship with the business activity "other types of education, n.e.c."

Who is Olena Kravchenko

Olena Kravchenko is from Odesa and is identified by media as Oliinyk's partner. On social media, she positioned herself as a cosmetologist, although her Instagram is currently private. In 2024, Kravchenko registered a sole proprietorship for intermediation in the trade of textiles, clothing, fur, footwear, and leather goods. The business activity was terminated on 12 July of the same year. Her connection with Oliinyk is traced through joint photos and the athlete's publications. She was with him during the trip to Oman.

Reaction to the scandal and other controversial episodes

After the uproar, Oliinyk published an apology. He stated that he was unaware of the local rules for handling sea turtles, admitted his mistake, and assured that he had no intention of harming the animal. According to the environmental project Biologicamente, the couple was in Oman with volunteers from an organisation that monitored nests. Conservationists suggested that the presence of volunteers might have created a false impression of permission to interact with the animal, although the project questioned the professionalism of such an organisation.

Information spread on social media about the detention of Oliinyk and Kravchenko at the airport, but Ukrainian and Omani law enforcement agencies have not officially confirmed this fact. TSN drew attention to this discrepancy.

The turtle story is not the only controversial episode for the athlete. His social media retain a publication about apitherapy, where he demonstrates the procedure of obtaining bee venom using live bees, calling it a positive experience. Users criticise this approach, as the bee usually dies after stinging.

Family and business circle

Vadim Oliinyk's mother is Inessa Pelypenko. She was a historical participant of the "Kangaroo" travel agency and is now listed as the founder of the "Around the World" travel agency and the head of "Courage" LLC. Regarding Olena Kravchenko's parents, the dossier contains only assumptions based on social media. Specifically, Anatoliy Kravchenko is linked to trading at the "Privoz" market in Odesa, but this is an unconfirmed fact.

Oliinyk's current image is that of a trainer, author of paid programmes, fitness blogger, and a person building his own international brand around sports. The scandal in Oman has become a new test for his reputation, formed over years of sports and media activity.