Ukraine officials will boycott Paralympics over Russia participation, sports minister says

Ukraine will boycott the Paralympics over Russia and Belarus competing, urging other nations to join their protest.

Ukraine officials will boycott the Milano Cortina Paralympics next month over the participation of a handful of Russian and Belarusian athletes cleared ‌to compete under their flags, Ukraine’s Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi said on Wednesday (February 18, 2026).

Ukrainian athletes will still take part in the March 6-15 Paralympics but Mr. Bidnyi said no Ukraine official would be at the ⁠opening ceremony or any event of the Games, and he urged other countries to follow suit.

“In response to the Paralympics organisers’ outrageous decision to let Russians and Belarusians (sic) compete under their national flags, Ukrainian officials will not attend the Paralympic Games,” Mr. Bidnyi said on social media.

“We will ‌not be present at the opening ceremony. We will not take part in any other official Paralympic events. We thank every official from the free world who will do the same. We will keep fighting!”

Russia and ‌Belarus will have a combined 10 para athletes at next month’s Paralympics following Tuesday’s (February 17) decision by the International Paralympic ‌Committee.

Earlier, ⁠Mr. Bidnyi called the decision to allow six Russians and four Belarusians to participate in the Paralympics a ⁠sign of support for Russia’s propaganda.