Six Russians and four Belarusians have been given the go-ahead to compete in the Paralympics in Italy in March. There they will officially compete for their country, unlike in the Olympics, where they are participating as neutral athletes.
Ukraine's sports minister Matvii Bidnyi is furious with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), claiming that athletes in Russia are "glorifying war and receiving state awards."
"The flags of Russia and Belarus have no place at international sporting events that stand for justice, integrity and respect," Bidnyi writes on X.
During the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as neutrals.
