Anastasia Kucherova, a Russian architect residing in Milan, Italy, revealed her anonymous act of carrying the placard for the Ukrainian delegation during the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Kucherova, who has not returned to Russia since 2018, explained her symbolic protest against the war in Ukraine, stating that words cannot erase the suffering endured. Despite the random assignment of countries to volunteers, she expressed her preference for Ukraine and was visibly moved to tears upon their entrance, feeling the stadium recognized their independence and courage. She acknowledged the risks of openly defying the Russian regime but believes fear indicates the regime's success.