Team Roster and Preparations for the 2026 Nations League
Raul Lozano, head coach of the Ukrainian men's national volleyball team, has selected an extended 20-player squad to prepare for the 2026 Nations League. The team's training camp will commence on May 2, 2026, in Maribor, Slovenia, and will run until May 18, 2026. During this period, the squad will undergo intensive training and play several friendly matches.
As part of their preparations, the Ukrainian team is scheduled to play two sparring matches against Croatia around May 14-15, 2026. Following this, on May 20, 2026, Ukraine will face Bulgaria in Sosnowiec, Poland. Additionally, on May 22 and 23, 2026, in Katowice, Poland, the Ukrainian national team will compete against the national teams of Poland and Serbia. These matches are crucial for testing tactics against high-level European opponents.
National Team Roster
The squad comprises players specializing in various positions:
- Setters: Vitaliy Shchetkov (Epitsentr-Podoliany), Yuriy Synytsya (Hebei, China), Serhiy Yevstratov (Levy, Czech Republic)
- Opposites: Oleksandr Boyko (Calabria Vibo Valentia, Italy), Vasyl Tupchiy (Barkom-Kazhany/Arcada Romania), Maksym Tonkonog (Fano, Italy)
- Outside Hitters: Illia Kovalov (Barkom-Kazhany), Tymofiy Poluyan (Milōn, Greece), Oleh Plotnytskyi (Perugia, Italy), Yevhen Kisiliuk (Rapid Bucharest, Romania), Dmytro Yanchuk (Panathinaikos, Greece), Oleksandr Nalozhnyi (Epitsentr-Podoliany)
- Middle Blockers: Yuriy Semenyuk (Projekt Warsaw, Poland), Maksym Drozd (Epitsentr-Podoliany), Andriy Chelenyak (Epitsentr-U-20 National Team), Denys Veletskyi (Epitsentr-U-20 National Team), Ruslan Chervatyuk (Epitsentr-U-20 National Team), Vladyslav Shchurov (Barkom-Kazhany)
- Liberos: Yaroslav Pampushko (Barkom-Kazhany), Yevhen Boyko (Reshetylivka)
This preparatory phase promises to be intensive and productive, aiming to achieve strong results on the international stage. The friendly matches will be vital for improving team cohesion and refining skills ahead of the competition. Participation in major tournaments like the Nations League is a key benchmark for the development of Ukrainian volleyball and its competitive standing globally.
As the Ukrainian men's volleyball team gears up for the 2026 Nations League, it's worth noting that other national teams are also preparing for significant competitions. For instance, the draw for the Euro 2026 has placed Ukraine's women's handball team in a challenging group alongside France, Poland, and the Faroe Islands. This highlights the competitive landscape of Ukrainian sports as teams across various disciplines strive for success on the international stage. To learn more about the handball team's upcoming matches and opponents, check out this article on the Euro 2026 draw.