Ukraine is competing at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games with its largest delegation in 16 years, fielding 46 athletes across 11 sports despite ongoing disruptions caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The Ukrainian team took part in the opening ceremony on Friday, appearing in venues in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo during the traditional Parade of Nations.
The ceremony was held across several locations in Italy, with the parade split between city and mountain venues. Ukraine’s 46-member delegation is its biggest at the Winter Olympics since the 2010 Games in Vancouver.
The country’s participation comes amid nearly four years of full-scale war. According to the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, more than 3,000 members of the country’s sports community have joined the armed forces since Russia’s invasion, with more than 600 killed.
Missile strikes, damage to sports facilities, and electricity shortages have complicated preparations, forcing many Ukrainian athletes to train abroad.
Flagbearers and ceremony appearances
At Milan’s San Siro stadium, the Ukrainian flag was carried by 21-year-old short-track speed skater Yelyzaveta Sydorko, who is making her Olympic debut. She is the youngest Ukrainian short-track athlete to compete at the Olympic Games.
“I didn’t expect to be chosen,” Sydorko said in comments released by the National Olympic Committee. “But I am proud to represent Ukraine.”
Figure skater Kyrylo Marsak also took part in the Milan segment of the ceremony.
In Cortina d’Ampezzo, the flag was carried by 27-year-old skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, who is competing in his third Olympic Games, following appearances at Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022, shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“It’s a great honour, for me, but also for Ukraine in these times,” Heraskevych told AFP. “I believe it’s a very strong symbol for Ukraine that we are still standing strong, we are still among the best nations despite the war in our country.”
Ahead of the Games, the International Olympic Committee warned Heraskevych against any protest actions during the Olympics, citing its rules on political statements.
Heraskevych drew international attention at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, when he publicly called for an end to the war against Ukraine.
Part of the opening ceremony also took place in the mountain clusters of Livigno and Predazzo. Ukraine was represented there by snowboarder Annamari Dancha, competing in her fifth Olympic Games, and ski jumper Yevhen Marusiak, the country’s national record holder.