- July 28, 2026
- 7:27 pm
- Israel
What Miki Zohar responded to this, the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel did not publish.
The Ambassador of Ukraine to the State of Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, called on the Israeli government not to allow the demonstration of Russian state symbols during international sports competitions held in the country.
This is stated in the official statement of the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Israel, published on July 28, 2026, on the official page of the diplomatic mission on Facebook.
According to the embassy’s publication, Yevgen Korniychuk met with Israel’s Minister of Culture and Sports, Miki Zohar. The parties discussed promising areas of cooperation between Ukraine and Israel in the fields of culture, sports, and humanitarian initiatives.
Special attention during the meeting was given to the decisions of international sports organizations that are gradually easing restrictions for athletes from Russia and returning them the opportunity to participate in major competitions.
More than 660 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have died
As reported by the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel, Korniychuk told the Israeli minister about the consequences of the Russian aggressive war for Ukrainian sports.
According to the data provided by the Ukrainian side, since the beginning of the Russian aggression, more than 660 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have already died.
Russian attacks have also destroyed or damaged more than 852 sports facilities in Ukraine. Among them are stadiums, swimming pools, sports schools, training halls, ice arenas, and specialized bases for athlete training.
The official statement of the embassy notes that among the affected facilities are more than 20 Olympic, Paralympic, and Deaflympic training centers.
| Consequences of Russian aggression for Ukrainian sports | Data provided by the embassy |
|---|---|
| Deceased athletes and coaches | More than 660 |
| Destroyed and damaged sports facilities | More than 852 |
| Olympic, Paralympic, and Deaflympic centers | More than 20 |
“Ukrainian athletes, like all Ukrainians, are forced to live, work, and train under the conditions of escalating challenges caused by the Russian aggressive war,” said Yevgen Korniychuk.
His words are quoted by the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel in an official Facebook publication.
Behind these numbers are not only destroyed buildings. It is about deceased people, disrupted sports careers, destroyed training bases, and young athletes who are forced to prepare for international competitions during air raids and Russian attacks.
Ukraine opposed the return of Russian symbols
According to the embassy’s statement, Korniychuk separately expressed outrage at the latest decisions of certain international sports organizations that allowed athletes from the aggressor country to participate in international competitions.
The Ukrainian ambassador called on the Israeli government not to allow the demonstration of Russian state symbols on the country’s territory.
“There is no place for the symbols of the aggressor state at international sports events, which are meant to embody peace, respect, and unity,” Korniychuk emphasized.
This appeal primarily concerns the Russian flag, anthem, national uniform, and official representation of Russian teams.
Ukraine consistently emphasizes that state symbols cannot be separated from the actions of the state, which continues the war, strikes civilian infrastructure, and kills people.
The Russian flag on the international sports arena is not a personal symbol of an individual athlete. It is the official symbol of the state under which the Russian armed forces continue to wage an aggressive war against Ukraine.
NANews — News of Israel notes that the Ukrainian side does not equate the personality of each athlete with the Russian state. The main demand concerns the official return of Russia to international sports under the national flag, with the anthem and state name.
International organizations are gradually returning Russia to sports
Korniychuk’s statement was made against the backdrop of decisions by a number of international sports organizations that are gradually lifting restrictions imposed after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In July 2026, the International Olympic Committee preliminarily lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee. The restrictions had been in place since October 2023 after the inclusion of sports organizations from occupied territories of Ukraine into the Russian Olympic structure.
This decision does not mean the automatic return of the Russian team to the Olympic Games under the flag and with the anthem. However, it opens the way for further easing of restrictions and the return of Russian sports structures to the international system.
Earlier, the international federation World Aquatics, which is responsible for swimming, water polo, diving, and other water disciplines, also eased restrictions for Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Russians began to regain the opportunity to compete with the national name, use state flags, national uniforms, and anthems.
Similar decisions were made in other sports. In particular, the International Fencing Federation allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials to participate in international competitions with state symbols.
Thus, it is no longer just about allowing individual athletes in a neutral status. International federations are gradually restoring full state representation of Russia.
Ukraine believes that such a process creates a dangerous situation: Russia gets the opportunity to restore its international reputation through sports without ending the war and without being held accountable for destruction and loss of life.
Why the appeal is addressed specifically to Israel
After the softening of the position of international sports organizations, Kyiv increasingly addresses directly to the governments of countries where competitions are held.
Even if the international federation allows the Russian flag, the host country can take its own position and refuse to provide the aggressor state with a platform for the official demonstration of its symbols.
For Israel, this issue is of particular importance. Israeli athletes themselves regularly face political pressure, demands for suspension, refusals of opponents to compete, and attempts to use international sports for the diplomatic isolation of the country.
Ukraine essentially proposes that Israel apply a single principle: international sports venues should not become a tool for the normalization of states and organizations associated with war and terror.
At the same time, the situation of Ukraine and Israel on the international sports arena has a significant difference. Israel faces attempts to suspend its athletes against the backdrop of a war with terrorist organizations, while Russia is waging an aggressive war against a neighboring independent state and occupying its territories.
What Miki Zohar responded
The reaction of the Israeli minister is also known from the official statement of the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Israel on Facebook.
According to the publication, Miki Zohar expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people, who are forced to confront an external enemy daily.
The Israeli minister stated that Israel, Ukraine, and other democratic states are on the same side of the civilizational confrontation and are united by common external threats.
The parties agreed to continue dialogue and cooperation within various international initiatives.
The official statement of the Ukrainian embassy also mentions that Miki Zohar spoke about plans to visit Ukraine in 2026.
However, the publication does not report that the Israeli minister gave a specific promise to ban Russian symbols at sports competitions or to initiate a corresponding government decision.
From the text, it follows that at this stage, the Israeli side expressed political solidarity with Ukraine and agreed to continue discussing the issue.
A separate statement from the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Israel on the results of the meeting was not presented at the time of publication. Therefore, Miki Zohar’s statements, information about the parties’ agreements, and his plans to visit Ukraine are cited from the official publication of the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel on Facebook.
From words of solidarity to concrete decisions
The meeting between Korniychuk and Zohar showed that the issue of returning Russian state symbols to international sports is becoming a subject of direct dialogue between Ukraine and Israel.
Kyiv is trying to convince democratic states that the Russian flag cannot be perceived as a neutral element of a sports ceremony while Russia continues its aggressive war.
NANews — News of Israel emphasizes: the main question is not only about the participation of individual athletes. It is about whether the aggressor state should be allowed to represent itself on the international stage as a normal state, using the flag, anthem, and national colors.
International sports organizations are gradually opening the way back for Russia. First, athletes are allowed to compete in a neutral status, then the country names, national uniforms, flags, and anthems are returned.
Each such decision can be presented as technical or sports-related. However, together they form a process of political normalization of Russia against the backdrop of the ongoing war.
Ukraine has raised this issue directly with Israel.
Words of solidarity from Miki Zohar have already been spoken. Now it remains to be seen whether concrete decisions will follow when Russian state symbols attempt to be demonstrated at sports competitions held in Israel.