The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) announced its decision to provide cash payments to 116 athletes who were barred from competing in the Winter Olympics. The exclusion of athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports stems from the ongoing international sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Despite the bans, 13 Russian athletes received approval to compete as neutrals at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Games in February. Mikhail Degtyarev, the Russian Sports Minister and ROC chairman, stated that the executive committee's decision to award monetary bonuses was in response to what he termed "treacherous political decisions" that prevented athletes from attending the Games.

Degtyarev emphasized the ROC's commitment to restoring the Russian national team's participation in international competitions, asserting:

The Ministry of Sport and the ROC are doing everything possible to ensure the full return of the Russian national team to international competitions under the national flag and with the national anthem. Where necessary, we negotiate; where that fails, we defend the athletes' rights in court so that our team can compete for medals with a full roster.

Nikita Filippov was highlighted as the only Russian athlete to win a medal at the Winter Olympics, securing a silver in ski mountaineering. In light of the bans, the International Olympic Committee has devised a pathway for individual athletes to compete as neutrals, contingent upon meeting stringent criteria, including a lack of active support for the war.