As the Russia flag was hoisted for the first time at a Paralympics since 2014, it cut an incongruous image against the blinding white backdrop of the Dolomites.
A symbol that now looks strikingly unfamiliar at major sporting events returned at Milano Cortina as Russian para alpine skier Varvara Voronchikhina won bronze in the women’s downhill standing race.
It was the first time the Russian flag has flown at a Games since Sochi 2014, with the nation only confirmed as being allowed to compete in international competition in January.
First, a state-sanctioned sponsored doping scandal led to a ban of Russia from 2014, before their invasion of Ukraine in 2022 extended their exile.
But after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) lifted its ban on Russia and Belarus in September 2025, it paved the way for a Russian appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport, who overruled the FIS to allow the nation to compete.
At an individual level, it meant 23-year-old Voronchikhina could compete, and medal, under her country’s flag for the first time.
“It’s a really long time when we were without the flag, and I’m really glad now,” she said. “All my country and all my teammates, we are also glad.”
Voronchikhina came just 2.47 seconds away from gold, an event that will surely prove far more seismic – given the Russian national anthem will then be played – and one that remains wholly possible with more events for both her and several other competitive Russian athletes.
In fact, just moments after Voronchikhina had collected her bronze, the Russian flag flew again as Aleksei Bugaev also claimed bronze in the men’s downhill standing.
“I’m happy, I suppose. First medal for me. I won the medal for my country, for Russia. I’m happy to represent my country,” said Bugaev after his podium spot.
Both athletes are set to compete in a further four events for their country, and neither seemed shy of expressing their pride at representing their nation.
But it is a decision that extends far beyond individual medals or pride, as the seven countries opting to boycott the Paralympic opening ceremony in protest showed.
Among them was Ukraine, a nation that has been subject to an ongoing invasion by Russia, but for which the IPC deem the latter to have served their time.
But while the Russian flag may have stood out, it was the Ukrainian flag that was hoisted most often on the opening day of the Games.
The nation accrued six medals, all in the para biathlon, with three of those gold, placing them top of the medal table ahead of China.
It included a clean sweep in the men’s sprint visually impaired as Oleksandr Kazik claimed gold.
“Before the competition we were sitting all together with the Ukrainian women’s team and we were talking about how it would be very good to have all three athletes on one podium,” he said.
“We were joking and laughing and saying it would be very nice. When we finished our race they told us, ‘Yes, we did it, we did it’.
“We need to compete and be strong, not only to beat the other teams, but also for ourselves to be strong. We’re happy that we could bring this victory for Ukraine and be strong for Ukraine.”
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