Ukraine protests as Russian, Belarusian Paralympic athletes cleared to compete under their nation's flags

Federaţia Rusă

Ukraine's national sports minister said Wednesday that officials from the country would not attend the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, in protest over a decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags. The International Paralympic Committee has lifted a ban in place for three years on athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus competing under their national flags. The ban was issued in response to Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion