The International Olympic Committee (IOC) accused Russia on Thursday of violating the "Olympic Truce" following its invasion of Ukraine, stating that it would provide humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian athletes wherever possible.
Hours after Moscow began its invasion of the pro-Western neighbor, the IOC condemned "the Russian government's violation of the Olympic Truce" in a statement. It noted that all 193 member states of the United Nations had agreed in December to a global truce starting seven days before the Winter Olympics in Beijing on February 4 and ending seven days after the conclusion of the Winter Paralympics on March 13.
However, in the early hours of Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, resulting in dozens of deaths and forcing hundreds to flee.
The statement continued, "Today, IOC President Thomas Bach (German) reiterates his call for peace made in his speeches at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games." The IOC also expressed "deep concern for the safety of the Olympic community in Ukraine" in light of recent events.
It added that it had "formed a task force to closely monitor the situation and provide humanitarian assistance to members of the Olympic community in Ukraine wherever possible."
