According to a regulation issued by the Sports Ministry, Ukraine has barred its national sports teams from participation in Olympic, non-Olympic, and Paralympic competitions that feature athletes from Russia and Belarus. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which enraged Kyiv by allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, made the decision, which was condemned by some Ukrainian competitors. In February, Russia invaded Ukraine, initially utilising its ally Belarus as a staging area while troops advanced towards Kiev in what Russia referred to as a “special military operation.” The ban has drawn criticism from certain Ukrainian athletes, notably Olympic skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, who claimed it would destroy Ukrainian sports.