Assertions that Ukraine is “boycotting the Paralympics” misrepresent the country’s stance. Kyiv is not withdrawing from the Games; the so-called boycott is limited to the opening ceremony and constitutes a targeted political protest.
Several websites and Telegram channels have circulated claims that Ukraine intends to boycott the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy, suggesting that the Ukrainian delegation will not compete. These reports tie the alleged decision to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under their national flags.
These reports distort Ukraine’s actual position.
Ukraine will participate fully in the 2026 Winter Paralympics. The boycott is limited to the opening ceremony and is intended as a protest against the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national symbols.
The National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine announced that the boycott applies exclusively to the opening ceremony of the XIV Winter Paralympic Games, scheduled for March 6 in Verona. The committee’s statement reads: “The Ukrainian Paralympic team and the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine are boycotting the opening ceremony of the XIV Winter Paralympic Games… and demand that the Ukrainian flag not be used during the ceremony.”
The statement further underscores: “Neither Russia nor Belarus passed the qualification process to receive licenses to participate in the Milan-Cortina Paralympics… Many countries requested additional slots to allow their young athletes to develop winter Paralympic sports, but despite the slot allocation rules, the IPC decided to grant the largest number of slots to Russia.”
Thus, the protest targets the admission procedure, not Ukraine’s participation in the competitions.
Valerii Sushkevych, President of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, told Hromadske that Ukraine is not boycotting the Games: “If we don’t go, it would mean allowing Putin to win over Ukrainian Paralympians and Ukraine by excluding us from the Games. That will not happen!”
Ukraine is not alone in protesting the International Paralympic Committee’s decision. On February 19, Poland’s Ministry of Sport and Tourism announced a boycott of the opening ceremony for the same reasons, with Estonia and the Czech Republic issuing similar statements. The European Commission also plans to abstain from the Milan-Cortina ceremony. EU Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef called the IPC’s decision “unacceptable” and confirmed he would not attend the March 6 event in Verona, citing his inability to support the return of national symbols for a country engaged in an ongoing war against Ukraine.
Background: In late September 2025, the International Paralympic Committee lifted the suspension of Russia and Belarus. By February 2026, the IPC cleared six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to compete at the Games under their national flags.
Ukrainian journalists have reviewed the roster of Russian athletes cleared to compete and assessed any potential ties to the war in Ukraine. Among the six athletes admitted, none have confirmed records of military service. Russian state and pro-Kremlin media, by contrast, emphasize the athletes’ injuries and sporting accomplishments while largely omitting any discussion of military affiliations.
StopFake has previously debunked false reports alleging that Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych’s helmet featured terrorist symbols and military portraits.
