Russia scores a propaganda win via the International Paralympic Committee’s unexpected decision. According to it, Russian athletes will be allowed to return to the global stage despite the intensified civilian terror in Ukraine.
As of June 2025, the “Angels of Sport” project recorded information on 489 Ukrainian athletes killed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Many others became disabled.
At the General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee in Seoul, delegates have decided to fully restore the status of the Russian and Belarusian national committees.
Previously, partial restrictions had applied due to Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine. Now, Russian athletes will be allowed to compete under the Russian flag.
“At the IPC General Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, IPC member organisations voted not to maintain the partial suspensions of the National Paralympic Committees of Belarus and Russia,” the Committee said.
Russia uses sports as “soft power”
At the same time, Russia actively exploits international sports to spread narratives, justify its war, and legitimize its occupation.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Youth and Sports collected information on eight Russian athletes and officials who supported the war and participated in propaganda events but continue to compete internationally.
Among them is Pavel Rozhkov, President of the Paralympic Committee of Russia, who organizes propaganda tournaments involving Russian soldiers and injured occupiers.
Other athletes include such names as:
- Zaur Uguev, Abulrashid Sadulaev, and Zaurbek Sidakov, who took part in a propaganda rally at Luzhniki Stadium in 2022 and still compete in Europe.
- Angelina Melnikova, a gymnast who won the United Russia primaries in 2025, was granted neutral athlete status. She continues to compete internationally.
Russians target orphans and disabled families’ children for military draft in Kherson Oblast
Contrast with terror on Ukrainian soil
The International Paralympic Committee’s decision comes amid massive Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine.
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On 28 September 2025, over 40 missiles and 580 Shahed drones were launched at Kyiv and surrounding regions, killing a child and three civilians, injuring over 80, including rescue workers.
According to the UN, such strikes constitute deliberate terror against civilians aimed at demoralizing Ukrainians.