On the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, we speak about the impact of Russia’s war on Ukrainian sport.
As of March 2025, 591 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russia, 22 are held in captivity, and 11 are missing. 725 sports facilities have been damaged or destroyed by Russian attacks, including 17 Olympic, Paralympic, and Deaflympic training bases.
For decades, Russia has been using sport for propaganda. 10 out of 15 Russian athletes who competed under a neutral flag at the 2024 Olympics in Paris either publicly supported the war or were affiliated with the military. Russian sport is not separate from the state – it is one of the tools used to justify and promote aggression. Those who say sport should be outside politics must also acknowledge that Russia uses sport as a political weapon.
While Ukraine seeks peace, Russia continues launching missiles and undermining global peace efforts. There should be no place for Russia in international sports until it stops its atrocities against Ukraine.
#BoycottRussianSport #NoStageForRussia #WhiteCard