Rostelecom Cup Figure Skating Competition
The Rostelecom Cup is no longer part of the ISU Grand Prix. It was Russia's Grand Prix event from 1996 to 2021. In 2022 the ISU barred Russian and Belarusian skaters after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Rostelecom Cup was removed from the series, and its slot went to Finland. That event, first called Grand Prix Espoo and since 2024 the Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki, is still on the Grand Prix calendar.
History
- 1996: first held in St. Petersburg as the Cup of Russia, and added to the Grand Prix series.
- 2009: renamed the Rostelecom Cup after its sponsor, the Russian telecommunications company Rostelecom. It was usually held in Moscow.
- 2021: the last edition held as a Grand Prix event.
- 2022: the ISU barred skaters and officials from Russia and Belarus in March, and in July named Finland as the new host for the Grand Prix slot (Grand Prix Espoo, November 2022).
Russian skaters today
Russian and Belarusian skaters were shut out of international competition from 2022 to 2025, apart from a few who were cleared to compete as neutral athletes in Olympic qualifying and at the 2026 Winter Olympics. In June 2026 the ISU decided to let them compete again from the 2026-27 season, as individual neutral athletes without flag or anthem, after individual vetting. Neutral athletes have already skated at Grand Prix events in 2026. The Rostelecom Cup itself has not returned to the series.