Zelenskyy decorated Ukrainian skeleton racer Heraskevych with Order of Freedom

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has decorated Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych with the Order of Freedom.

Source: a decree published on the official website of the president of Ukraine

Details: The relevant decree was published on the official online platform of the president of Ukraine.

Today, on 12 February, the Ukrainian Olympian was disqualified from competing at the Olympic Games 2026 for failing to comply with the ban on using the "helmet of remembrance".

Background:

• On 9 February, the IOC banned Heraskevych from competing in a helmet featuring portraits of Ukrainian athletes killed during the war. The IOC suggested that he wear a black armband as an alternative. The Ukrainian athlete responded that in spite of the ban, he planned to compete wearing the helmet.
• The situation gained worldwide attention, and Heraskevych received support from many well-known figures, including Olha Kharlan, a Ukrainian sabre fencer, and Volodymyr Klitschko, a Ukrainian boxer. Ukrainian athletes and members of the military have also expressed their support.
• The Ukrainian parliament called on the IOC to allow Ukrainian athletes to use symbols honouring the memory of fallen Ukrainian athletes and defenders of Ukraine and to reconsider the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in competitions.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!