Six Russian and four Belarusian athletes will compete under their countries' flags at the upcoming Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) lifted its ban in September. Russia and Belarus had been suspended after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Previously, athletes could compete only as neutrals. Four sports' governing bodies kept bans, but these were overturned by a court ruling in December. The Court of Arbitration for Sport allowed them to take part and earn ranking points. The IPC confirmed the ten athletes received bipartite commission invitations. Russia will have six slots: two in Para-alpine skiing (one male, one female), two in Para-cross country skiing (one male, one female), and two male slots in Para-snowboard. Belarus earned four slots—all in cross-country skiing (one male and three female). Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy criticized the decision, saying on X, "Allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their own flags while the brutal invasion of Ukraine continues sends a terrible message." She urged the IPC to reconsider. Bipartite invites are for top athletes unable to qualify normally due to special circumstances. Ukraine also received bipartite slots in three sports. It’s the first time since Sochi 2014 that the Russian flag will fly at Paralympics because of past doping and the invasion ban. Russian stars Aleksey Bugaev, a three-time Paralympic alpine skiing champion, and World Championship medallists Ivan Golubkov and Anastasiia Bagiian will compete. All returned to competition in January, with Bugaev and Bagiian winning World Cup titles. The Winter Paralympics run from March 6 to 15.