---
title: "\"This puts pressure on them\": President of the Ukrainian Judo Federation names main problems for athletes during the war"
description: "President of the Ukrainian Judo Federation Mykhailo Koshlyak, in an interview with Sport RBC.UA, named logistics, demographic losses, and psychological tension as the main difficulties for Ukrainian judoka during the war."
date: 2026-10-19T18:33:58.856Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/koshlyak-main-problems-ukrainian-judoka-war
tags: [judo, ukraine, war, sport, logistics, psychology]
author: "Dmitriy Shatolov"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "This puts pressure on them": President of the Ukrainian Judo Federation names main problems for athletes during the war

![President of the Ukrainian Judo Federation Mykhailo Koshlyak during an official event](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/19/koshlyak-glavnye-problemy-ukrainskih-dzjudistov-vo-vremya-voyny/koshlyak-glavnye-problemy-ukrainskih-dzjudistov-vo-vremya-voyny-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Mykhailo Koshlyak named logistics, demographic losses, and psychological tension as the main problems for Ukrainian judoka during the war
- It is difficult for athletes to reach training camps and competitions due to alerts, explosions, and train stoppages
- Funding and training camps remain under control with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports
- Psychological tension, according to Koshlyak, affects the final performance results

President of the Ukrainian Judo Federation Mykhailo Koshlyak, in an exclusive comment to Sport RBC.UA, spoke about the key difficulties faced by Ukrainian judoka during the war. According to him, the problem goes beyond training and competitions themselves: it affects the athlete's entire journey to them — from logistics and travel across the country to the psychological state, which increasingly influences final competition results.

### Logistics as the main challenge

The head of the Federation named logistics as one of the most acute problems. Athletes have to cover long distances across Ukraine, often amidst air raid alerts and train stoppages. "Right now, it is very difficult to reach the training camp and competition venues. Because you have to travel across the entire country, and there are explosions, alerts, trains stopping. You understand yourself — it's war," Koshlyak emphasized. Thus, even with a training plan in place, physical movement to the gathering location becomes a challenge in its own right.

### Demographic losses

Alongside logistics, Koshlyak pointed out the demographic factor: many young athletes are leaving Ukraine, which reduces the personnel reserve and complicates preparation. In his assessment, demographics and logistics form a bundle of two main external obstacles that the Federation must contend with when organizing the training process and participating in competitions.

### Funding under control

At the same time, according to the Federation president, the situation regarding funding and holding training camps remains under control. Koshlyak noted the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports: "With the help of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, thank God, everything is fine with us. There is an action plan and a gathering plan developed by the Federation. This plan is approved by the Ministry and we fulfill it." Thus, at the organizational and resource level, work is proceeding according to the approved plan.

### Psychological tension

According to Koshlyak, the psychological state of the athletes requires the most attention. Constant military circumstances and tension, he says, affect readiness for performances. "Very high tension, this puts pressure on them. The athletes try hard, but we see a lot of anxiety that affects the final result," explained the head of the Ukrainian Judo Federation. He emphasized that athletes continue to work and prepare for competitions, but the psychological load remains a serious factor that must be taken into account.

Overall, according to the Federation's leadership, Ukrainian judo during the war operates in a mode of constant overcoming of external limitations: logistics and demographics form objective barriers, the financial side is maintained at the state level, and the key internal challenge becomes the psychological resilience of the athletes, upon which the result on the tatami directly depends.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Кошляк назвал главные проблемы украинских дзюдоистов во время войны: "Это давит на них"](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/othersport/koshlyak-nazvav-golovni-problemi-ukrayinskih-1792434569.html) - Primary source: exclusive commentary by the President of the Ukrainian Judo Federation Mykhailo Koshlyak. The theses regarding logistics, demographics, funding with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and psychological tension are confirmed. Quotes match the text.

## FAQ

### Who commented on the problems of Ukrainian judoka?

The comment was given by the President of the Ukrainian Judo Federation Mykhailo Koshlyak in an exclusive interview with Sport RBC.UA.

### What main difficulties did Koshlyak name?

He named difficult logistics, demographic losses (young athletes leaving Ukraine), and psychological tension affecting results.

### How is the situation with camp funding?

According to Koshlyak, the situation is controlled: the Federation develops an action and camp plan approved by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and this plan is carried out.

### Does the psychological state affect the result?

Yes, Koshlyak noted that high tension "puts pressure" on athletes and anxiety affects the final result, although athletes continue to prepare for competitions.