Ukraine Condemns Return of Russia, Belarus to Paralympics: "Allowing Killers to Compete"

• Ukraine sharply criticized the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under national flags at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.
• The International Paralympic Committee confirmed six Russian and four Belarusian athletes will compete under their own flags.
• Ukraine's sports minister Matviy Bidny called the decision "disappointing and outrageous," stating these flags have no place in international sports.
• Bidny claimed Russia uses Paralympic sport to support those injured in the Ukraine war.
• The suspension, imposed after the 2022 invasion, was lifted by the IPC in September, reigniting tensions between sport and geopolitics.