Russia and Belarus will continue to be banned from international ice hockey competitions for the 2025-26 season, the International Ice Hockey Federation announced Tuesday citing security concerns.

Matvei Michkov’s senior debut for Russia in an officially sanctioned tournament will have to wait. The International Ice Hockey Federation ruled Tuesday that Russia and Belarus will remain ineligible for tournaments for the 2025-26 season as it “believes it is not yet safe to reintegrate” the two countries into tournaments.

Russia and Belarus are to remain frozen out of International Ice Hockey Federation competitions through the 2025-26 season.