Russian chess player Sergey Karjakin has featured in videos seeking financial support for the Russian armed forces in the war in Ukraine ©Getty Images

Controversial Russian chess player Sergey Karjakin has been filmed travelling to the front line, encouraging financial support for the armed forces and playing games against soldiers fighting in the war in Ukraine.

Karjakin - who was born in the disputed Crimean region which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 but remains widely considered as part of Ukraine by the international community - was banned for six months last year after publicly expressing support for Vladimir Putin's full-scale war.

Although his ban has ended, world number 11 Karjakin has only played competitively in Russia and has refused to compete in International Chess Federation (FIDE) events under a neutral flag, including the World Cup in Azerbaijan's capital Baku from July 29 to August 26.

"It’s my favourite tournament, with a knockout format," Karjakin said in a video on Telegram.

"I’ve played well there in the past.

"But in the upcoming tournament I can’t represent my country, play under my flag, and if I successfully perform, I will not hear my country’s national anthem.

"I am categorically against this.

"My position doesn’t change and I have voiced it many times."

Recent videos on social media have also shown Karjakin visiting the front line, requesting financial support for the Russian army and playing chess with soldiers.

insidethegames has asked FIDE for a comment on the videos.

The Chess Federation of Russia (CFR) has switched affiliation from Europe to Asia to allow it easier access to competitions.

Individual players from Russia and Belarus have been permitted to play under the FIDE flag since the invasion of Ukraine, although teams from both countries are banned.

FIDE is led by former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich.

Former World Chess Championships challenger Sergey Karjakin, left, has refused to compete in FIDE events because he cannot compete under the Russian flag ©Getty Images
Former World Chess Championships challenger Sergey Karjakin, left, has refused to compete in FIDE events because he cannot compete under the Russian flag ©Getty Images

Peter Heine Nielsen of Denmark, a renowned coach of former world champions Viswanathan Anand of India and Magnus Carlsen of Norway, has urged FIDE to sanction Karjakin, but claimed to Reuters the player is "incredibly useful in terms of [making] Dvorkovich look more civilised and balanced".

Karjakin stood for the Presidency of the CFR in December last year, but was beaten by incumbent Andrey Filatov.

He won the 2015 FIDE World Cup in Baku and the 2016 Candidates Tournament to reach the World Championship Match against Carlsen, which he lost.

Karjakin had represented Ukraine in FIDE events until 2009, when he switched allegiance to Russia.

Putin honoured Karjakin with a state award in July last year after he was suspended by FIDE.