War has killed 262 Ukrainian athletes, sports minister says

FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian servicemen lower to grave a coffin with the body of their brother-in-arms Volodymyr Androshchuk, who was recently killed in a fight against Russian troops near the Bakhmut town, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, during a funeral ceremony at a cemetery in the town of Letychiv, Khmelnytskyi region, Ukraine February 1, 2023. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo

(Reuters) - Russia's war against Ukraine has claimed the lives of 262 Ukrainian athletes and destroyed 363 sports facilities, the country's sports minister, Vadym Huttsait, said on Saturday.

Meeting the visiting president of the International Federation of Gymnastics, Morinari Watanabe, Huttsait said no athletes from Russia should be allowed at the Olympics or other sports competitions.