Protests were held near the hotel housing the Russian fencers and outside the Sports Palace, the venue for the competition.

Sofya Velikaya is one of the world's most successful fencers, having won multiple Olympic medals. Now, after a long absence, she is allowed to return to competition — despite her military rank.

Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin complained on Tuesday that most of his fighters had not yet received medals promised by President Vladimir Putin for their role in the Ukraine war's ...