FAU, the Ukrainian Automotive Federation, has asked the FIA to take a stand against the attack launched by Russian president Vladimir Putin with a number of measures, which include a racing ban for those whose license was issued by the Russian Federation.

After Ukraine's capital Kyiv was bombed alongside its other most populated cities, an increasing number of countries have issued sanctions for Russia. Major public events to be hosted in the country have also been moved ever since, with the Champions League Final, which had been set to happen in Saint Petersburg, to take place in Paris.

Motorsport related events have been impacted as well, with the GT, WTCR and the MXGP Russian rounds cancelled.

F1 had released a statement on the Russian Grand Prix that was supposed to take place in September, saying that it is at the moment "impossible to hold” in these circumstances. 

Many drivers have shared their concern and support for Ukraine, with four times World Champion Sebastian Vettel refusing to race in Russia before the FIA' s decision, and title holder Max Verstappen saying that "when a country is in war, it's not right to race there."

Newly appointed FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem had expressed "his full support, and that of the FIA" to FAU's President Leonid Kostyuchenko, stating his will to help, and his "hope that the situation will improve as quickly as possible without any harm to the civilian population".

In his answer Kostyuchenko asks for more severe measures to be taken in support of the Ukrainian population against their aggressors, Russia and Belarus, including the ban of the use of the state symbols for the countries in competitions involving the FIA.

Russia had been referred to as Russian Automobile Federation after the 2020 sentence by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that had followed an Olympic doping scandal, who's allowing its athletes to compete as neutrals.

Another measure Ukraine is asking for is to ban RAF licence holder drivers to compete outside of Russia, which could strongly impact F1, and, specifically, Nikita Mazepin.

The Haas F1 Team had dropped Uralkali, their Russian title sponsor immediately after the aggression, running a plain white livery on the third day of the Barcelona testings, but the Russian driver took part in the morning session as planned.

To my fans and followers - it's a difficult time and I am not in control over a lot of what is being said and done. I'm choosing to focus on what I CAN control by working hard and doing my best for my @HaasF1Team . My deepest thanks for your understanding and support. 🙏

— Nikita Mazepin (@nikita_mazepin) February 25, 2022

The FAU calls also for the prohibition to hold FIA-related events in Russia and Belarus and vice versa, to ban holding RAF sponsored events in the occupied territories, as well as the dropping of all the members representing the countries'automotive federations from international commissions.

But the Ukrainian Federation isn't the only authority asking for a Russian athletes ban, as the International Olympic Committee as well urged for a removal of all Russian and Belarusian officials from control roles, and to "not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions."

In case it's not a possibility to ban these athletes, the IOC asks for them to compete under a neutral flag and to not represent their country, "in order to protect the integrity of global sports," as per the words of their statement. 

As the FIA was fully recognised by the Olympic committee, such a strong suggestion will definitely be seen by Ben Sulayem. It also might leave space to impact all Russian racing drivers in feeder series like Formula 3 or other championships, and not only Mazepin.