Vladimir Udaltcov, guided by Ruslan Bogachev, and Elena Remizova, guided by Maksim Pirogov, won the men's and women's visually impaired cross-country sprint titles respectively, before Vladislav Lekomtcev prevailed in the men's standing event.

Compatriots Oleg Ponomarev, guided by Andrei Romanov, and Stanislav Chokhlaev, guided by Evgenii Fatkhullin, took the silver and bronze medals in the men's cross-country event, while another Russian, Iuliia Budaleeva, guided by Tatiana Maltseva, rounded off the podium in the women's equivalent.

Breaking the Russian stranglehold on the discipline was Ukraine's Oksana Shyshkova and guide Lada Nesterenko, silver medallists in the women's event.

"I have very strong competitors so as usual, the race was quite tough," said Shyshkova.

"I'm happy with the result and satisfied with my skiing."

Ukraine's Oksana Shyshkova managed to break up Russia's dominance of the cross-country sprint events ©Getty Images



Lekomtcev finished ahead of France's Benjamin Daviet, who secured his third silver medal of the Championships, and fellow countryman Rushan Minnegulov in third.

"It was a hard race," said Daviet.

"Third medal in three days - it is very good."

There was also success for the United States on home soil as Andrew Soule and Oksana Masters won bronze medals in the men's and women's sitting events respectively. 

Soule crossed the line behind gold medallist Maksym Yarovyi of Ukraine, and silver medallist Alexey Bychenok of Russia, while Germany's Andrea Eskau and Norway's Mariann Marthinsen edged out Masters, finishing first and second. 

Meanwhile, in the women's standing, Ukraine's Oleksandra Kononova drove herself to victory to maintain her 100 per cent record at the Championships, where she has won four gold medals across biathlon and cross-country disciplines.

Kononova beat fellow Paralympic champion Helene Ripa of Sweden to top spot, with team-mate Luidmyla Liashenko taking the bronze medal.

"It is a fight but in a good way," Ripa said.

"I think she [Kononova] is very happy today that she beat me and I think she had a very good race today

"I am very happy to be second."

The competition is due to continue on Friday (January 30) with biathlon long distance events as the athletes take a rest day tomorrow.

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