Ukraine's National Paralympic Committee has declared that the Ukrainian team will not participate in the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games. This decision stems from the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus, with Ukrainian officials expressing a strong stance against their presence due to the ongoing geopolitical tensions and conflicts involving these nations. In light of this, the committee has also demanded that the Ukrainian flag not be showcased at the event, emphasizing their opposition to the participation of these countries.

The president of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, Valerii Sushkevych, highlighted that while they will not attend the opening ceremony, the Ukrainian athletes will still compete in the events. This approach reflects a commitment to support their athletes while also standing firm on their political stance against Russia and Belarus's involvement in international sport, given the context of the ongoing war and international sanctions against these countries.

The decision to boycott the opening ceremony illustrates Ukraine's broader strategy of leveraging international sporting events as a platform to voice its political and ethical concerns. By standing with athletes from other nations who share similar views towards the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes, Ukraine aims to uphold the principles of fairness and integrity in sports, thereby aligning the values of the Paralympic Games with their national interests and moral stance against aggression.