Ukraine's Ambassador to Israel called for Russian symbols to be banned from sporting events
During a meeting with Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zoar, Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevhen Korniychuk called for preventing the use of Russian state symbols at international sporting events.
During the talks, the parties discussed cooperation between Ukraine and Israel in the fields of culture, sports, and humanitarian projects. The Ukrainian diplomat paid particular attention to the impact of Russian aggression on Ukrainian sports.
According to the ambassador, more than 660 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed since the start of the full-scale war, and more than 852 sports facilities have been damaged or destroyed as a result of Russian attacks, including more than 20 Olympic, Paralympic, and Deaflympic training centers.
Kornichuk also expressed concern over the decisions of certain international sports organizations to allow athletes from the aggressor country to participate in international competitions and emphasized that symbols of the Russian Federation have no place at sporting events, which are meant to embody peace and unity.
For his part, Israel’s Minister of Culture and Sports expressed support for the Ukrainian people and announced his intention to visit Ukraine in 2026.
Source: Embassy of Ukraine in Israel.
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