Ukrainian Biathlon Federation Names 'A' and 'B' Squads
The Ukrainian Biathlon Federation has finalized the rosters for its 'A' and 'B' teams in preparation for the 2026/27 season. This announcement coincides with a significant overhaul of the coaching staff, a strategic move aimed at enhancing athlete performance for upcoming international competitions. The primary 'A' team will consist of 20 athletes, including 12 women and 8 men.
Team Rosters
The women's 'A' team roster features the following biathletes:
- Olena Horodna
- Khrystyna Dmytrenko
- Kseniia Prykhodko
- Polina Putsko
- Khrystyna Ruda
- Liliia Steblyna
- Tetiana Tarasiuk
- Viktoriia Khvostenko
- Alina Khmil
- Daryna Chalyk
- Iryna Shevchenko
- Valeriia Sheihas
The men's 'A' team is composed of:
- Volodymyr Aksiuta
- Bohdan Borkovskyi
- Anton Dudchenko
- Taras Lesiuk
- Vitalii Mandzyn
- Denys Nasyko
- Dmytro Pidruchnyi
- Serhii Suprun
The women's 'B' team includes:
- Yuliia Dzhima
- Valeriia Dmytrenko
- Anastasiia Merkushyna
- Oleksandra Merkushyna
- Iryna Tarasiuk
- Viktoriia Yasenych
The men's 'B' team roster is as follows:
- Oleksandr Bilanenko
- Roman Borovyk
- Stepan Kinash
- Dmytro Kriukov
- Oleksandr Ponomarenko
- Ivan Steblyna
- Artem Tyshchenko
- Mykhailo Khmil
- Bohdan Tsymbal
Athlete Achievements
Key recent results from Ukrainian biathletes highlight the team's potential:
- Oleksandra Merkushyna, who placed 17th in the individual race at the Olympic Games.
- Tetiana Tarasiuk, who secured the Junior IBU Cup Sprint Small Crystal Globe for the season.
- Vitalii Mandzyn, who finished the season 25th in the overall World Cup standings and placed in the top-20 in eight individual races.
- Dmytro Pidruchnyi, who delivered the best individual World Cup result for a Ukrainian man, finishing 7th in the pursuit race in Oberhof.
In the new coaching structure, Oksana Khvostenko has been appointed senior coach of the women's team, replacing Mykola Zots. Serhii Semenov takes over as senior coach of the men's team, succeeding Nadiia Bilova. The Ukrainian Biathlon Federation continues its active preparations for future events, including the 2026/27 season.
The approval of the team rosters and the coaching changes reflect the Ukrainian Biathlon Federation's commitment to ensuring its athletes remain competitive on the world stage.
Successes at the Olympics and in World Cup events underscore the team's capabilities, and the new coaches are expected to bring fresh perspectives and strategies to the preparation process. This demonstrates the federation's readiness to adapt and provide optimal conditions for athlete development as the biathlon world looks ahead to the next Olympic cycle.
In light of the recent roster announcements, the Ukrainian Biathlon Federation has also made significant changes to its coaching personnel. Understanding the implications of these adjustments is crucial for fans and analysts alike, as the new leadership could play a pivotal role in shaping the team's future performance. For more details on the newly appointed coaches and their vision for the national teams, read about the latest coaching appointments.