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Ukraine Boycotts Paralympics Over Russian Athlete Inclusion

2/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Ukrainian officials will boycott the Milano Cortina Paralympics over Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags.
Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi condemned the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) decision as outrageous.
Ukrainian athletes will compete, but no Ukrainian officials will attend the opening ceremony or other events.
The IPC decision followed a vote to lift bans on these athletes, drawing criticism from the EU's sports commissioner, who plans to boycott.

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Story summary

Ukrainian officials will boycott the Milano Cortina Paralympics over Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags.
Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi condemned the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) decision as outrageous.
Ukrainian athletes will compete, but no Ukrainian officials will attend the opening ceremony or other events.
The IPC decision followed a vote to lift bans on these athletes, drawing criticism from the EU's sports commissioner, who plans to boycott.