As Ukrainian athletes prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics, they will seek to boost the morale of their compatriots in Ukraine amid an ongoing war and a brutal winter.

Ukraine is sending a 103-member Olympic delegation to the Milan Cortina Olympics, including skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych. Photo courtesy of Vladyslav Heraskevych The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics At 5 a.

Alexander Ovechkin barely finished his jubilant belly slide across the ice last April before the Russian propaganda machine started revving up. The Kremlin seized the chance to portray a milestone goal from one of Vladimir Putin’s most loyal and high-profile supporters as a national triumph for Russia.

The U.N. and IOC are asking for a pause in wars, an ancient Olympic tradition, amid the Winter Games. Athletes from countries beset by violence are set to compete.

The Winter Games, which officially open in Italy on Friday, are rooted in international cooperation. That feels out of place to some in a world where old rules no longer apply.

Beating the Americans will feel even sweeter for the U.S.' top allies.