Matviy Bidnyi said Kyiv was concerned the move gave the impression the International Olympic Committee (IOC) "does not want to demonstrate necessary leadership in matters of Olympic fairness and justice".

Bidnyi - who replaced his former boss Vadym Gutzeit when he was sacked in November - was responding after the IOC's request on Tuesday significantly raised the hopes of Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals in Paris.

The IOC has not made any final decision on whether athletes from Russia and Belarus, an important ally of Moscow in its offensive in Ukraine, can compete in the July 26 to August 11 games.The IOC has said it will decide "at the appropriate time".

Bidnyi said he hoped the IOC would act in as responsible a manner as it has done on previous occasions since the start of the war, when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion in February last year.

"As President Volodymyr Zelensky aptly said: 'Obviously, any neutral flag of Russian athletes is stained with blood,'" Bidnyi said.

"We are counting on a responsible decision and leadership from the IOC, which will not allow Russia to use sport for military propaganda."

"Even if it's sport under a neutral flag."

He cited the IOC's decision not to formally invite Russia as a team to the games and, more recently, that the IOC had shown "responsible leadership" by suspending the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee.

"I remind you that Russia is the only country that has violated the Olympic truce three times," Bidnyi said. He was referring to 2008, 2014 and 2022.

"They do not respect the basic values of Olympism: excellence, respect and friendship. Instead, we respect the principle of neutrality, but 'neutrally'. is possible only in peacetime.”

"When there is a war and one nation is destroying another nation, then 'neutrality' becomes irresponsibility."

Bidnyi claimed that Ukraine's desire for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be banned has support from 40 countries.

He said there was only one way that including Russian and Belarusian athletes was acceptable.

"Refusal of the Russian passport -- this is the only possible way today for an athlete to prove Olympic excellence is his first priority, and the athlete does not take on a share of responsibility for the killings of Ukrainians," said the 44-year-old.

He said Ukraine welcomed the IOC's move to allow athletes who had previously competed for Russia to switch nationalities.

"These athletes have proven by their actions that they do not support the Russian war."