Putin celebrates Paralympic flag comeback while Ukraine counts its dead
Russia’s president has framed the restoration of the Russian flag and anthem at Paralympic events as a national triumph, even as the war against Ukraine continues to devastate the country’s sporting community and infrastructure.
Kremlin hails Paralympic decision as national success
Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under their national flag and anthem at international competitions, according to the Kremlin.
Speaking about the decision, Putin described it as a collective achievement for the country. “It is gratifying that today our Paralympians compete again at the world’s biggest events with our national symbols, flag, and anthem. I consider this our common great victory,” he said, as cited by Russian state media.
The ruling clears the way for Russian athletes to appear under national symbols at the 2026 Paralympic Games, marking a significant shift from the restrictions imposed after Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine.
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Ukraine highlights human and material losses
The celebratory tone in Moscow contrasts with figures presented by Ukrainian officials, who point to the toll the war has taken on the country’s sports sector.
According to Ukrainian authorities and reporting cited by Euromaidan Press, at least 644 Ukrainian athletes and sports workers have been killed since the invasion began. Dozens more have been injured, detained, or are listed as missing.
Ukraine also reports widespread destruction of sports infrastructure. Officials say Russian strikes have damaged at least 799 sports facilities across the country, with 180 completely destroyed, including training bases, stadiums, and local sports centers.
Ukrainian officials argue that these losses are often overlooked when international sports bodies ease restrictions on Russia.
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Gradual return through international sports bodies
The International Paralympic Committee’s decision follows earlier moves by other organizations to loosen bans on Russian participation.
The International Olympic Committee previously allowed Russian athletes to return to competition under a neutral status. Other federations later went further. The International Sambo Federation first permitted Russian junior athletes to compete under national symbols and extended that policy to adult competitors in December 2025. Similar allowances have been introduced in judo, a sport where Russia has long held institutional influence.
According to analysts and Ukrainian officials, these decisions have helped Russia re enter international sport and provided material for domestic messaging portraying the country as unfairly isolated.
Sport, symbolism, and the war’s unresolved questions
International sports organizations say they are attempting to balance political realities with principles of inclusivity and athlete rights. Critics in Ukraine and elsewhere counter that restoring national symbols during an ongoing war risks normalizing aggression and weakening earlier sanctions.
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As Russia prepares for a full symbolic return to Paralympic competition, the debate over whether sport can remain separate from war is likely to intensify, particularly while fighting continues and Ukraine reports ongoing losses among its athletes and sporting institutions.
Sources: Euromaidan Press, Kremlin statements, International Paralympic Committee, Ukrainian officials, Russian state media
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