The Russian national ice hockey team has been banned from participating in the 2026 World Championship.

Russia banned from participating in the 2026 World Ice Hockey Championship

The Russian national ice hockey team has been barred from participating in the 2026 World Championship. This is reported by Russian propaganda media.

Today, February 4, a meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Ice Hockey Federation took place, which made the decision to exclude the Russian national team from the 2026 World Championship.

The Russian Ice Hockey Federation will have the right to appeal this decision after the conclusion of the 2025 World Championship. The International Ice Hockey Federation also leaves open the possibility of revisiting the decision if Ukraine becomes a victim of Russian aggression.

No decision has yet been made regarding the participation of the Russian national team in the 2026 Olympic ice hockey tournament.

The International Canoe Federation to begin the neutrality status check of Minazova

In response to a request from Ukrainian journalist Artem Khudoleyev, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) will conduct a check on the 'neutrality' of Russian slalom athlete Alsu Minazova. This was reported by Watchers.

Minazova recently received 'neutral' athlete status from the ICF, allowing her to participate in international competitions.

The journalist contacted ICF leaders regarding Minazova's status and her involvement in propaganda events.

ICF President Tomas Konechko responded to the request, stating that information about Minazova will be verified.

'Dear Artem! Thank you for your letter and the information contained in it. We have a clear policy on neutral athletes, which was approved by our ICF board in 2023. This policy allows athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in competitions. We will forward your information for review by our ICF committee. Thank you once again for your information and dedication,' the ICF president Konechko stated in his letter.

Zhalingka moved to Russia

Larisa Zhalinska, a servant of the National Guard of Ukraine, was banned from leaving Ukraine due to interference in the state affairs of Russia. Therefore, she decided to travel to Russia on a tourist visa.

In an interview with Russian propaganda outlets from RT, she stated that she is Russian by nationality and talked about how she ended up in Moscow.

'Many people call my departure to Russia an escape, but I would not call it an escape. It was a return to my homeland, to my historical homeland. I have always been Russian-speaking, and my hometown is Primorsk in the Zaporizhia region of the Russian Federation,' Zhalinska said.

With a vacation permit allowing her to leave the country, obtained in the spring of 2024, Zhalinska purchased a tourist package to the Czech Republic. She also obtained a second foreign passport to cross the border. With the help of friends from Russia, she found carriers who helped her cross the Polish-Belarusian border. Additionally, she purchased a ticket for the Minsk-Moscow flight.

Zhalinska has been a multiple champion of Ukraine in rowing. At the last Ukrainian championship in 2024, she won two bronze medals and a silver, while in 2023, she was the holder of four gold medals.