IOC bans Heraskevych’s helmet honoring fallen Ukrainian athletes, Zelenskyy responds
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Getty Images)
Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has been banned from using a helmet at the 2026 Olympics that features images of Ukrainian athletes killed as a result of Russia’s war. Ukraine’s president has already responded, according to Heraskevych's Instagram and Zelenskyy's Telegram.
IOC bans Heraskevych’s helmet
On social media, Vladyslav Heraskevych said the IOC is prohibiting him from using his special helmet during official training sessions and competitions. The helmet featured Ukrainian athletes whose lives were taken by the war launched by Russia.
“A decision that simply breaks my heart. The feeling that the IOC is betraying those athletes who were part of the Olympic movement, not allowing them to be honored on the sports arena where these athletes will never be able to step again,” the skeleton racer said.
He emphasized that despite precedents in both recent times and the past, when the IOC allowed similar tributes, this time the International Olympic Committee decided to impose special rules for Ukraine.
“We are preparing an official request to the IOC, and I sincerely hope this was only the position of the representative, and not the entire International Olympic Committee,” the athlete concluded.
Zelenskyy’s reaction
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy quickly responded to the situation, expressing gratitude to the Ukrainian team’s flag bearer at the Winter Olympics for reminding the world of the price of Ukraine’s struggle.
“On his helmet are portraits of our athletes killed by Russia: figure skater Dmytro Sharpar, who died in battles near Bakhmut; 19-year-old biathlete Yevhen Malyshev, killed by occupiers near Kharkiv; and other Ukrainian athletes whose lives were taken by Russia’s war,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The president stressed that this truth cannot be considered inconvenient, inappropriate, or labeled a political statement at a sporting event.
“This is a reminder to the entire world of what modern Russia is. And it reminds everyone of the global role of sport and the historic mission of the Olympic movement itself - everything is about peace and for the sake of life. Ukraine is faithful to this. Russia proves the opposite,” the head of state concluded.
Olympics 2026
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are being held in two Italian cities - Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The competitions began on February 6 and will conclude on February 22.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Ukrainian athletes took part in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. For more details on how it unfolded, see our coverage.
