A Russian woman in Milan made a quiet protest against the war by leading Ukraine’s Olympic team into the stadium

The five Ukrainian athletes who took part in the Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony in Milan were led out by an Italian-based Russian volunteer who disagrees with her country’s invasion of their neighbour.

Ukraine figure skater Kyrylo Marsak skates at Olympics with his dad front of mind originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Kyrylo Marsak's joy captured the hearts of Olympic fans everywhere on Tuesday.

The topic has become a debate during the 2026 Milan Cortina Games amid the conflicts involving Russia and Israel.

Anastasia Kucherova, a Russian living in Milan, voiced her opposition to Russia’s war against Ukraine with a highly symbolic, if anonymous, act: Carrying the Ukraine team placard during the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych has been banned from the Milan/Cortina Olympics over a dispute concerning a helmet he wanted to wear at the skeleton competitioin to commemorate athletes killed in the war with Russia.

Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina for wearing a memorial helmet honoring Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed since the Russian invasion

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Love was in the air — make that the big air — for freeskier Kateryna Kotsar of Ukraine on Valentine’s Day. On a cold, perfect evening in the Italian Alps, Kotsar got the sweetest gift of all after she qualified for the Olympic big air final Friday night.