For a long time, the Olympic Games have silenced wars. Today, however, the International Olympic Committee is trying to silence those who remind about these wars.
The disgraceful decision of the IOC to disqualify Ukrainian skeletonist Vladyslav Heraskevych even before the start of the competition. For refusing to remove the “helmet of memory.” For trying to remind the world that the war in Ukraine is ongoing. That Russian missiles continue to take Ukrainian lives, including those of our athletes. In their view, the “helmet of memory” is a political statement.
But no. It’s about the ability to remember, about the courage to stand up for your values, and about deep respect for each of our warriors and athletes, whom Russia has forever deprived of the right to live, breathe, and win.
Despite being denied the right to compete for an Olympic medal, Vladyslav is already a winner. A winner for every Ukrainian. This is the achievement of the highest quality. Remaining true to oneself when the whole world pressures you — that is the true Olympic spirit.
Memory is not a violation. In memory lies our strength!
ESSE QUAM VIDERI/TO BE, NOT TO SEEM
The discredit of the IOC, selective blindness and lack of principle by the IAEA, UN, and several other international structures—all of this speaks to the degradation of fundamental things upon which modern Western civilization was attempted to be built. It’s about abandoning principles, insincerity, turning a blind eye to reputation, double standards, distorting and manipulating foundational stories, and “pretending rather than being.” In short, it’s about the decline that the West stubbornly ignored.
This is why they are so pleased and embraced in Moscow and Beijing. This is what sensible Western figures will try to bring back into the agenda.
It so happened that the signs of this decay became most apparent to us—those who have continually tried to uphold the high declared standards and ideals of a democratic world of free nations. Declared.
But it turned out that these desired ideals were more important to us than to those who already had them. It turned out that the lofty teachings and preaching about “how it should be” were often combined with arbitrary interpretations of principles and ideals by “teachers.”
It would be so tempting here to throw in the face “here’s the price of your rules” and dive into a sea of cynical reworkers of world orders… only ideals are not to blame for being betrayed by those who were supposed to uphold and promote them.
Of course, it might seem that the world of principles and rules is collapsing, it might seem that ideals and rules are no longer relevant and needed by anyone, but this is an illusion.
Needed. By us.
It so happened that despite all the imperfection of Ukrainian society and the state, we were the ones who felt the price and value of ideals. Against the backdrop of those accustomed to “videre,” we manifested our “esse.” The only ones in the post-war world who dared to fight for this “to be.”
Perhaps this acute sense of the price and value of the free world is our challenge? Those who not only in words but in deeds live ESSE QUAM VIDERI can help restore the understanding of the importance of rules and values, a demand for authenticity rather than imitation? By correctly prioritizing each time. As Vladyslav Heraskevych did, placing the price and value of honor above the cost of Olympic gold.
P.S. Sitting somewhere on Olympus, Pierre de Coubertin looks at the degenerates of the IOC with disdain. Most likely, the baron would not only understand Vladyslav Heraskevych’s action but also support it, because the little that Coubertin glanced beyond reality—in the First World War, the baron left Olympic affairs and joined the French army, returning to sports only after the Great War ended.
ESSE QUAM VIDERI
Why the disqualification of Heraskevych is not just an ethical but also a security issue.
It hurts us. It hurts when the world refuses to see the deceased Ukrainian children killed by Russia. This is no longer about a humanitarian catastrophe; it’s about genocide, the destruction of the future.
But the world pretends there’s no war in Ukraine, even though the Olympic Games used to stop all wars…
Because acknowledging the war means undermining one of the key value ideas of the Olympic Games, which have always been about fair competition, not about the right of force, which is what war is.
Moreover, this step by the Olympic Committee to disqualify Heraskevych highlighted a bigger problem: the world generally prefers not to notice the aggressive war to destroy a multimillion-dollar nation in the center of Europe. Because it involves an aggressor that is a nuclear state.
In fact, the policy of burying one’s head in the sand has never tamed any aggressor. It fueled their appetites.
This is exactly what is happening today. Putin clearly sees the fear of world leaders and will move further. Because his war was immediately declared a war against NATO.
And therefore, all analysts’ forecasts about the possibility of Russia’s aggression against one of the alliance countries are far from fantasy. It would be worth reminding this to the IOC members who made the decision on Heraskevych. Because it’s not just about their ethics, it’s also about the safety of their loved ones. And the world as a whole.
Vladyslav Heraskevych, through his dignified act, demonstrated that the willingness to sacrifice one’s personal professional goals for the sake of national interests can yield enormous results for the people.
He united almost all of Ukraine externally.
Prominent Ukrainians, who gathered today at the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center, including Yuriy Shcherbak, Mykhailo Horyn, Mykola Zhulynsky, and Ivan Malkovych, also expressed their support.
Look at Yuriy Shcherbak’s wise assessment.
Everything is just beginning.
I do not envy this IOC composition!
Unreal respect for our skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych!
Due to his stance and the IOC’s actions, these photos have spread worldwide much more than a gold medal would have! And the act of courage, honor, and respect for our athletes, killed at the hands of enemies, will reach even more.
I understand how much effort and resources were invested for Vladyslav to even go to the Olympic Games. And it is very unfortunate that he was not allowed in the first race. This only further inspires and elevates the level of the act he committed!
The IOC has banned not the Ukrainian athlete, but its own reputation. Future generations will recall this as a moment of shame.
He simply wanted to commemorate fellow athletes killed in war. There is nothing wrong with that under any rules or ethics.
The IOC intimidated,… pic.twitter.com/5FsK7FCakC
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) February 12, 2026
LB.ua: Four Years of Geraskevich’s Struggle: From “No to War!” to the “Helmet of Memory”
Who is Vladyslav Geraskevich, how did the IOC try to prevent his latest protest against war, and will he be able to compete in the 2026 Olympics in Italy?
