“The Kyiv regime seeks to trample on both the principles of Olympism and the foundations of humanity,” the spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry emphasized.

The diplomat’s statements follow a previous declaration issued by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in which they asserted that their officials would withdraw from the Paralympic Games if the organizers did not reconsider their decision regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes displaying national symbols.

The Ukrainian Paralympic Committee also issued a statement declaring that “the Ukrainian Paralympic team and the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine are boycotting the opening ceremony of the XIV Winter Paralympic Games and demand that the Ukrainian flag not be used at the opening ceremony.”

At the end of September 2025, the International Paralympic Committee fully restored the rights of the Russian Paralympic Committee, meaning that its athletes will participate with the national flag, anthem, and other national symbols at the Paralympic Games and other competitions under its auspices.

This week, the president of the Russian Paralympic Committee, Pavel Rozhkov, announced that six Russian athletes have received bilateral invitations to participate in the Games.

This will be the first time since 2014 that athletes from Russia will compete under their national colors at the Paralympic Games.

The 2026 Paralympic Games will be held from March 6th to 15th in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

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