The Ukrainian men's national volleyball team has officially announced its roster for the opening week of the world's most prestigious commercial tournament — the 2026 Volleyball Nations League. China will host the event this year, but just before the team's departure to Asia, an unexpected scandal erupted within the "blue and yellows" camp involving one of the team's main leaders.
Plotnitsky stuck in Europe
Oleg Plotnitsky, the star outside hitter for Italy's Perugia, who officially announced his return to the national team on the eve of the international season, has found himself in a difficult situation. Due to organizational delays in processing documents, the volleyball player is still in Europe. He needs to obtain a new Ukrainian passport to be able to fly to the tournament.
Currently, Plotnitsky has been unable to join the main squad, which has already departed for China. The coaching staff is holding onto the hope that bureaucratic issues will be resolved as quickly as possible, allowing the leader to join the team directly during the opening matches.
Plan B and key players
In the event that the documentation situation is not resolved in time, Argentine head coach Raul Losano has a reliable backup plan. The coach has four other outside hitters at his disposal capable of covering this position. Among them is Dmytro Yanchuk, who was the most productive player in the previous edition of the Volleyball Nations League.
Other key figures of the Ukrainian team are also in the lineup: middle blocker Yuriy Semenyuk and opposite hitter Vasyl Tupchyi. Their presence should ensure stability in play, even if Plotnitsky is absent at the start.
Preparation and broadcasts
For the Ukrainian national team, this is the second consecutive season of participation in the Volleyball Nations League. Before flying to China, the team played a series of three friendly matches. Preparation met with mixed results: the Ukrainians lost to Bulgaria and Poland with the same score of 1:3, but managed to end the cycle with an optimistic victory over Serbia with a score of 3:1.
The exclusive broadcaster of the Volleyball Nations League in Ukraine is "Suspilne Sport". Fans will be able to follow the matches of the national team live on the "Suspilne Sport" platforms and local "Suspilne" channels.