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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ripped the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday after an athlete was disqualified for wearing a helmet to honor the victims of the war with Russia.
The IOC said Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych’s decision to continue wearing the helmet that paid tribute to more than 20 athletes and coaches who died in the war violated the organization’s policy against making political statements on the field.
The ruling caused massive backlash among Ukrainian athletes.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
“Sports should not mean amnesia and the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of aggressors,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media. “Unfortunately, the International Olympic Committee’s decision to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych says otherwise. This is certainly not about the principles of Olympic practice, which are based on justice and support for peace.
“I thank our athlete for his clear stance. His helmet, bearing the portraits of fallen Ukrainian athletes, is about honor and remembrance. It is a reminder to the whole world of what Russian aggression is and the cost of fighting for independence. And in this, no rule has been broken.”
Zelenskyy blamed Russia for violating “Olympic principles” with its continued wars against neighboring nations, including his own.
Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete under a neutral flag at the Olympics.
Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych with his helmet, which displays images of people killed in the war with Russia. Heraskevych was banned from the Men’s skeleton event by the International Olympic Committee just over an hour before competition began, pictured at the Cortina Sliding Centre, on day six of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Italy on 12 February 2026. (Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)
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“And now, in 2026, despite repeated calls for a ceasefire during the Winter Olympics, Russia is showing complete disregard, increasing missile and drone attacks on our energy infrastructure and our people,” Zelenskyy continued.
“660 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russia since the full-scale invasion began. Hundreds of our athletes will never again be able to participate in the Olympic Games or any other international competition. And yet 13 Russians are currently in Italy competing at the Olympics. They are competing under ‘neutral’ flags in real life of our aggression at the Games while supporting our Russian aggression in public and Ukraine. territories And they are the ones who deserve disqualification.
“We are proud of Vladyslav and what he did. Having courage is worth more than any medal.”
Heraskevych met with IOC President Kirsty Coventry before competing in the first official skeleton race. He said they could not “find common ground”.
Heraskevych received notice from the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), saying the helmet was “inconsistent with the Olympic Charter and guidelines for athletes’ expression.” The IOC offered him concessions, including wearing a black armband or the ability to display his helmet off the ice.
“I deeply believe that the IBSF and the IOC understand that I am not breaking any rules,” Heraskevych said. “I also want to say (it’s) painful that it really looks like discrimination because many athletes already expressed themselves… They didn’t face the same things. So suddenly just the Ukrainian athlete in these Olympic Games will be disqualified for the helmet.”
Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych arrives at the finish line during a men’s skeleton practice at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The IOC expressed “regret” over the decision.
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“As you’ve all seen over the last few days, we’ve allowed Vladyslav to use his helmet in practice,” said Coventry, who at times shed tears while speaking to reporters. “No one, no one – especially me – disagrees with the message. The message is a strong message. It’s a message of remembrance. It’s a message of remembrance, and no one disagrees with that. The challenge that we face is that we wanted to ask or come up with a solution for that particular playing field.”
