Ukrainian officials won’t attend Paralympics due to admission of Russians and Belarusians under their national flags

Ukrainian Youth and Sports Minister Matviy Bidny has announced that Ukrainian officials will not attend the 2026 Paralympic Games in response to organizers’ decision to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete under their national flags.

"In response to the Paralympic Games organizers’ outrageous decision to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete under their national flags, Ukrainian officials will not attend the Paralympic Games. We will also not attend the opening ceremony or other official Paralympic events," Bidny wrote on Facebook.

The minister will thank every official from free countries who also ignore the official Paralympic events.

Earlier, Bidny stated that the decision by the Paralympic Games organizers to allow athletes and para-athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags was "disappointing and outrageous."

Earlier, it became known that the International Paralympic Committee had made a decision according to which several Russian and Belarusian athletes would compete under their own flags at the Paralympic Games, and the national anthem would be played for all gold medalists.