Winter Paralympics 2026: Varvara Voronchikhina wins first medal for Russia at Milan-Cortina Games

The inclusion of six Russian and four Belarusian athletes, able to compete under their national flag and in their country’s colours, in the 2026 Winter Paralympics has caused an uproar, with seven countries – including Ukraine – choosing to boycott Friday’s opening ceremony in Verona.

Earlier on Friday, International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons told BBC Sport that Russian soldiers injured in the war with Ukraine would be allowed to compete in future Paralympics.

An investigation by Poland-based news site Vot Tak, as reported by The Moscow Times,, external It found that Russia is fast-tracking soldiers injured in para-sports.

The Russian Paralympic Committee has reportedly said that at least “70” veterans are now competing in national teams.

Ukrainian skeletal athlete Vladislav Heraskevich, who was disqualified from the Winter Olympics last month because he wanted to compete wearing a helmet with images of Ukrainian athletes killed during the Russian invasion, later responded to Parsons’ BBC interview on Channel X.

“The president of the International Paralympic Committee literally said that they don’t care what Russian soldiers did in Ukraine. The problem is that we do care,” he said.

“They are killing Ukrainians on the battlefield, bombing our cities, and committing genocide. Now, with this move of allowing them to compete, the IPC gives them the opportunity to continue committing genocide by spreading Russian narratives with Russian flags and symbols.”

“This whole story is getting worse.”

The IOC did not want to comment when contacted by BBC Sport.