The identity of the person carrying the sign with Ukraine's name during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan has been revealed. It turned out to be Anastasia Kucherova, a Russian woman who has lived in Italy for years. Her gesture, though initially anonymous, constituted a symbolic act of protest against the war. The woman decided to take this step to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people and to manifest a position different from the official Kremlin policy.

Russian Woman Supported Ukraine

Anastasia Kucherova, a Russian woman living in Milan, carried the sign for the Ukraine team during the opening of the 2026 Olympic Games.

Symbolic Act of Resistance

The gesture was meant to be an expression of solidarity with Ukraine and to show that not all Russians support the official policy of the Kremlin.

Anonymous Participation of Volunteers

The woman was one of 92 people carrying signs, and her identity was only revealed after a publication on Instagram.

During the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, an extraordinary event occurred, which only gained full media context several days later. The sign with the inscription Ukraine, leading the national delegation of athletes, was carried by Anastasia Kucherova – a Russian citizen who has been permanently residing in Milan for 14 years. During the ceremony itself, the woman was almost unrecognizable, dressed in a silver hooded jacket and dark glasses, which was the standard attire for all 92 volunteers performing this function. Only her social media post and a later interview with the Associated Press agency revealed the motivation behind this gesture. Kucherova, an architect by profession, described her act as an act of resistance and support for the attacked country. She explained that she wanted to show the world that not all Russians support the military actions of Vladimir Putin. According to her account, Ukrainian athletes quickly realized her origin upon hearing her respond to them in Russian, which reportedly met with a warm reception from them. Kucherova admitted that the ovation the stadium gave to the Ukrainian delegation brought tears of emotion to her eyes, which no one saw behind the dark lenses of her glasses. The Russian aggression against Ukraine from February 2022 led to drastic changes in the world of sports, including the suspension of Russian federations in most international competitions. Since then, Russian athletes can only participate in the Games under a neutral flag, which evokes extreme emotions on both sides of the conflict. Although Anastasia Kucherova has lived in Italy since 2012, her gesture resonated widely in international media, becoming one of the most commented-on political aspects of the Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The author of the manifesto emphasized that this is her subjective way of fighting hatred and building bridges between nations. Official sports bodies of Russia have not yet commented on this incident, but on social media, the woman's stance has received mixed reactions – from expressions of highest praise to accusations of treason. „It is important to show that not all people think the same way and oppose violence.” — Anastasia Kucherova 14 years — the length of time Anastasia Kucherova has lived in Italy

Mentioned People

  • Anastasia Kucherova — Russian architect living in Milan, who carried the Ukraine sign at the opening ceremony.