STORY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday (February 13) awarded Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified from the Olympic skeleton competition over his "helmet of remembrance" depicting athletes killed since Russia's invasion, with the medal of freedom.

Zelenskiy and Heraskevych met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

"I know that I didn't violate any rules, so I'm not violating Olympic Charter or something else. I really value the Olympic Charter. I think it's a great value, and I think Ukrainians, as many other people all around the world, also want to have joy from sports," Heraskevych told reporters.

"My main focus and main goal of Olympics, it was always peace and humanity, and if you talk about tribute to the athletes, it's humanity and, I don't understand why we have this situation, why we had this scandal, but definitely we will fight for our truth."

The 27-year-old, who had been training in Italy with the helmet showing two dozen dead compatriots, was barred and initially told he would be stripped of his accreditation by the IOC minutes before competition was due to start at the sliding venue.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: MUNICH, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 13, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. UKRAINIAN SKELETON RACER VLADYSLAV HERASKEVYCH WALKING PAST IN HOTEL CORRIDOR

2. HERASKEVYCH AND HIS FATHER, MICHAILOV HERASKEVYCH, MEETING WITH UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, ZELENSKIY SAYING (Ukrainian): "....the correct Ukrainian position. With great respect to you and, of course, to all the Olympians who supported you and your position. I have always...very specifically, very directly...that's how it should be. Medals are important for Ukraine and for you. But it seems to me that the most important thing is who you are."

3. HERASKEVYCH LISTENING

4. VARIOUS OF ZELENSKIY HOLDING HELMET AND LOOKING AT IT

5. HERASKEVYCH SPEAKING AND HOLDING HELMET

6. MORE OF ZELENSKIY AND HERASKEVYCH MEETING

7. ZELENSKIY AWARDING HERASKEVYCH WITH MEDAL OF FREEDOM

8. MEDAL AND HELMET

9. ZELENSLIY AND HERASKEVYCH SHAKING HANDS

10. HELMET AND MEDAL

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN SKELETON RACER VLADYSLAV HERASKEVYCH, SAYING:

"It's huge, and I like to share it with these athletes. I think they deserve it even more. Because of their sacrifice, we are able to compete in the Olympics and our whole team is able to compete in the Olympics, and I truly believe that we are able to be at the Olympics these days and don't have a war in Europe, also because of their sacrifice."

12. HELMET OF REMEMBRANCE

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN SKELETON RACER VLADYSLAV HERASKEVYCH, SAYING:

"So, it was a purely discriminational decision by the IOC, and I should be there. But at the same time, I understand that this scandal had united people around the world about our problem and about the sacrifice of these great athletes, and I believe this goal is much more important than any medal."

14. HELMET AND MEDAL

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN SKELETON RACER VLADYSLAV HERASKEVYCH, SAYING:

"Especially, I know that I didn't violate any rules, so I'm not violating Olympic Charter or something else. I really value the Olympic Charter. I think it's a great value, and I think Ukrainians, as many other people all around the world, also want to have joy from sports. They want to have a friendship in their life and peace, because main focus and main goal of Olympics, it was always peace and humanity, and if you talk about tribute to the athletes, it's humanity and, I don't understand why we have this situation, why we had this scandal, but definitely we will fight for our truth."

16. HELMET ON TABLE WITH HERASKEVYCH SPEAKING IN BACKGROUND