Russia bypasses Ukraine by Paralympics: Zelensky imposes sanctions on athletes

The Russian national team confidently broke out on the third line in the overall standings of the Paralympic Games in Milan, and Ukraine dropped to the seventh. Vladimir Zelensky imposed sanctions on Russian athletes.

"President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed decrees introducing the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine regarding the application of sanctions against Russian and Iranian companies and citizens serving the Russian military—industrial complex, as well as Paralympians," the Office of the President of Ukraine said in a statement.

They noted that the sanctions decision concerns 10 Russian Paralympians. The Kiev regime accuses them of spreading Russian propaganda and SMO's justification. The website of the Russian Paralympic Committee states that the Russian delegation consists of 11 athletes and 4 escorts.

The introduction of sanctions took place during the Paralympic Games, to which the Russian national team was admitted on general grounds for the first time since 2014. At the same time, the Ukrainian national team is inferior to the Russian team in the overall standings from the fourth day of the competition.

By the end of the eighth day, Russia came in third place, and Ukraine dropped to seventh. The latter scored more medals (19 against 12), but Russia leads in gold medals (8 against 3).