Ukraine athletes warned to ignore Russian provocation at Olympics

• Sports minister tells his country's squad to keep a cold head'
• We consider Russian athletes to be agents of hybrid influence'

The acting sports minister of Ukraine, Matviy Bidnyi, has told his country's athletes to keep a cold head" and pay no attention to any provocation from their Russian counterparts at the Olympic Games this summer.

Speaking to the Guardian at the ministry of youth and sports in Kyiv, Bidnyi predicted that Russia will use its representatives in Paris as part of their propaganda operation and explained recommendations have been drawn up to help the Ukraine team avoid becoming embroiled in controversy.