The Ukrainian men's national volleyball team has finalized its roster for the 34th European Championship, which kicks off on September 9, 2026. The coaching staff led by Raul Losano has put together a 14-player squad, cutting four players from the extended list. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing Suspilne Sport. The tournament will be held for the fourth consecutive year across four countries — Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, and Finland — featuring 24 national teams, with the "blue and yellow" side drawn into Group B in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Who was left out: four players cut and Kovalov's injury
The following players were excluded from the national team's final roster: setter Vitaliy Shchitkov, opposite Alexander Boyko, middle blocker Andriy Chelenyak, and outside hitter Alexander Nalozhny. A separate blow for the team is that one of its key players — outside hitter Ilya Kovalov, who in 2023 reached the quarterfinals of the European Championship with the national team — will be unable to play due to health problems. As a result, Losano has noticeably fewer realistic candidates for the starting six and the bench, which increases the value of each player remaining in the squad.
Four debutants and Drozd's return
At the same time, four players have been given the chance to make their debut at a senior continental tournament: Maksym Tonkonoh, Dmytro Yanchuk, Denys Veletsky, and Yaroslav Pampushko. Their inclusion in the squad shows that the coaching staff is ready to rely on young players and broaden the depth of the roster. An important reinforcement is the return of middle blocker Maksym Drozd, who missed the previous continental tournament due to injury. His experience and size at the block should be a great asset for the team in the group-stage matches.
Championship format and schedule
The 34th European Men's Volleyball Championship will take place from September 9 to 27, 2026, in seven cities across Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, and Finland. This is the fourth time in a row that the European Championship is being organized simultaneously in four countries, with 24 national teams participating. This format implies a tight schedule and travel between venues, which traditionally increases the load on the squads and makes roster depth a critically important factor.
Group stage in Sofia: opening match against Israel
Ukraine will compete in Group B in Sofia, Bulgaria at the first stage. Raul Losano's team will begin their tournament journey on Thursday, September 10, with a match against Israel — the game starts at 19:00 Kyiv time. In addition to the Israelis, Ukraine's opponents in the group round will be the national teams of North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Portugal, and Poland. It is precisely these five matches that will determine whether the team, with its four debutants and the returning Drozd, can advance further in the championship bracket.
