On Thursday Ukrainian Paralympians and officials appealed for peace as their country continues to be attacked by Russian troops.
The 20 person delegation, led by Ukraine Paralympic Committee president Valerii Sushkevych, held up a banner reading “peace for all” and held a one-minute moment of silence.
“This one minute is about the thousands of people, including children and others with disabilities, back in Ukraine,” said Sushkevych. “If mankind is civilized, then this war must be stopped. People, women and children deserve to live, not die.”
Seven Ukrainian Paralympians are from Kharkiv, which has been one of the cities hit hardest by Russian forces. Several schools and hospitals in the town have been destroyed, though Russia denies targeting any civilians.
Despite all the devastation and uncertainty back home, Ukrainian Paralympians have done very well in Beijing, winning six gold medals, and 19 total medals. They are currently third in the medal table behind hosts China and Canada.
The Paralympics end on Sunday March 13.
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