Ukraine accuses the IPC and 2026 Paralympics organizers of pressuring it over flag removals, a banned earring, and allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags, leading to a boycott of the opening ceremony.

Ukraine has accused the International Paralympic Committee and Milan Cortina organizers of systematic pressure during the 2026 Winter Paralympics, citing incidents including the forced removal of a Ukrainian flag, disrupted team meetings, and the banning of a "Stop War" earring during a podium ceremony. The Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee said these actions were part of a pattern, not isolated events, and expressed disappointment over the IPC’s lack of awareness through official channels, as no formal complaints were made. The IPC stated it only learned of the allegations via media reports, denied prior knowledge, and defended the earring ban as a rule enforcement issue, noting flags are permitted in designated areas. Ukraine boycotted the opening ceremony in protest of the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags—a move marking the first such return in over a decade.