Ukraine’s Fencing Roster for the European Championships
The Ukrainian national fencing team has finalized its lineup for the European Championships, set to take place in Antony, France. A total of 24 fencers will represent Ukraine across 12 disciplines. The squad has undergone adjustments due to injuries, academic exams, and coaching decisions.
Notable absences include Vlada Kharkova, the current world champion. Also missing from the roster is top-ranked fencer Emily Conrad, sidelined by an injury, and Alina Dmytruk, who will miss the event due to an exam. According to Bohdan Nikishyn,
“the tournament will be without reigning world champion Vlada Kharkova, as well as ranking leaders Emily Conrad due to injury and Alina Dmytruk due to an exam.”
Ukraine’s Team Roster
Here is the full list of athletes selected for the Ukrainian squad:
Who Made the Cut?
- Men’s Épée:
- Nikita Koshman (bronze medalist at the 2025 World Championships)
- Roman Svichkar (2025 European champion)
- Mykhailo Krasnyuk
- Yevhen Makiyenko
- Men’s Sabre:
- Oleksiy Statsenko
- Andriy Yagodka (2022 European vice-champion in the team event)
- Dmytro Kolobaiev
- Bohdan Bohovin
- Men’s Foil:
- Andriy Pohrebniak
- Maksym Haravskyi
- Dmytro Chuchukalo
- Yelyzar Dyrda
- Women’s Épée:
- Inna Brovko
- Olena Kryvytska
- Anna Maksymenko
- Yana Shemyakina (2012 Olympic champion in individual épée)
- Women’s Sabre:
- Alina Komashchuk (2024 Olympic champion, 2016 Olympic vice-champion)
- Oleksandra Bondar
- Viktoriya Korotchenko
- Valeriya Gnidasheva (making her debut in place of Olena Kravatska)
- Women’s Foil:
- Dariya Myronyuk
- Alina Polozyuk
- Olha Sopit
- Kristina Petrova (selected over Anna Taranenko)
Despite these roster changes, the Ukrainian team is pressing ahead with preparations. The European Championships in Antony are set to be a pivotal event for Ukraine’s fencers. The International Fencing Federation has also lifted all restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes, a move that could reshape the competition landscape.
This championship will serve as a critical test for the Ukrainian squad, given the absence of key athletes and the shifting team dynamics. Notably, the return of Russian and Belarusian fencers to international competition after the lifting of bans may significantly affect the level of rivalry and final outcomes, including for Ukrainian participants. As a result, Ukraine’s athletes will not only compete among themselves but also face new challenges on the global stage.
As the Ukrainian fencing team prepares for the European Championships, the absence of reigning world champion Vlada Kharkova raises concerns about the team's prospects. Her potential non-participation could significantly impact the competition strategy. For more insights into the challenges Kharkova faces regarding her participation in both the European and World Championships, read more about her situation here.