Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Ukrainian Minister for Youth and Sport Matvii Bidnyi says Russia uses elite sport as part of its state propaganda system ByAndrew Benson F1 correspondent Published 8 hours ago Motorsport's governing body the FIA was wrong to lift the ban on Russian competitors because nothing has changed since it was imposed, the Ukrainian Minister for Youth and Sport says.
Matvii Bidnyi said: "The reasons why Russia was banned from international sports competition have not disappeared.
Nothing changes and it became even worse." Bidnyi said that the central rail station in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv had been bombed by a Russian drone on Wednesday just an hour before he spoke to BBC Sport.
"The air alert was just turning off," Bidnyi said.
"Our kids, we all came from the bomb shelter.
These attacks continue almost every day.
"Russia continues full-scale aggression against Ukraine.
Belarus can continue to provide military support to Russia.
Ukrainian people are still being killed every day.
And Russian attacks become more and more brutal.
"I don't understand, and Ukrainian people, and I know that all European people don't understand what's happened, why now we must to make this policy softer." Russian Athletics files new claim against sanctions Published 10 August Russia could compete at LA 2028 Olympics Published 7 July The ban on Russian and Belarussian competitors taking part in international motorsport events was imposed in February 2022, after Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine.
It was lifted on 3 August this year in a decision by the FIA's world motorsport council.
This followed the International Olympic Association, with which the FIA is affiliated, lifting its own ban.
Bidnyi pointed out that other sports organisations had not followed this route, including World Athletics.
"When any federation lifts the ban and makes steps towards the aggressor, the terrorist state, it's always really, really sad," he said.
"It's a massive disappointment for everyone in Ukraine.
And we think it undermines the collective pressure that the international community has been building against the aggressor.
"Unfortunately, there are a lot of international sports organisations trying to lift bans to release pressure from the aggressor.
We can observe it in such a federation as judo, weightlifting, and then a lot of others.
"But we have strong partners and strong principle international organisations - for example, biathlon or athletics - who understand the responsibility of the international sports community for international order and justice." The Russian Athletics Federation has filed a claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge the sanctions imposed by World Athletics.
Bidnyi said: "In Russia, elite sport is deeply connected with the military and state propaganda system.
It's one of the biggest whitewashing mechanisms.
This is why we call it sportswashing." The Ukraine government says that the war "has had a devastating impact on Ukrainian sport as a whole - since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion: 775 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russia", including three competitors in the Ukrainian Automobile Federation.
It says Russia "has made sport facilities their targets to continue killing - more than 925 sports facilities have been destroyed".
The FIA was contacted for comment.
Last week, it issued a statement regarding the decision to lift the ban on Russian competitors.
A spokesperson said: "The FIA has updated the requirements for Russian and Belarusian drivers, national teams, competitors and officials following a vote by the world motorsport council.
This follows an announcement by the IOC on 7th July and similar updates issued by other international sporting federations.
"The FIA maintains its ban on organising events and competitions in Russia and Belarus.
