The Ukrainian swimming team has officially finalized its roster for the season's premier European event — the 2026 European Aquatics Championships. The coaching staff has formed the final squad that will represent the country on the pool lanes in Paris. The tournament will take place from August 10 to 16, 2026, and the Ukrainian delegation is heading there with ambitious plans, though not without personnel losses.
Vladyslav Bukhov — the main hope of the "blue and yellows"
The central figure of the Ukrainian team at the upcoming championship will be Vladyslav Bukhov. The World Champion in the 50-meter freestyle (won at the 2024 World Championships) is the only swimmer to have won a medal for Ukraine at the world championship of the last cycle. The main mission of winning medals at the continental championship rests on his shoulders. Bukhov will defend the country's honor in sprint races, where experts assess his chances of success as the highest.
Team composition: veterans and newcomers
In total, 11 athletes will head to the French lanes: eight men and three women. Among the men, in addition to Bukhov, the roster retains experienced representatives of the national team who competed at last year's World Championships: Stepan Babenko, Volodymyr Lisovets, and Maksym Ovchynnikov. The women's part of the team will be represented by three top athletes: Yana Klykotetska and Irina Milyutina, specializing in breaststroke, as well as Nyka Sharafutdinova, who will compete in backstroke events.
The team also includes new faces capable of strengthening the national team's positions in relay races and individual disciplines. These are Ilya Lynnyk, Vadym Naumenko, Ihor Troyanovsky, and Nykyta Sheremet. Special attention is deserved by the progress of Nykyta Sheremet, who is approaching the tournament in excellent form. In December 2025, he won his first adult award at the European Short Course Championships, becoming the silver medalist in the 50-meter freestyle.
Sensational absence of a leader
The main surprise for fans and experts was the absence of Oleksandr Zhylyakov in the roster. The participant of the 2024 Olympic Games and the reigning European Champion in the 200-meter backstroke will miss the tournament in Paris. The nine-time junior European Championship medalist, who was traditionally considered one of the leaders of the Ukrainian swimming school, for some reason did not make it into the final list of participants. This decision by the coaching staff could significantly affect the team's medal prospects in backstroke disciplines.
Contradictory data
In the context of preparation for the 2026 European Championships, various sources may contain discrepancies regarding the exact list of participants or the reasons for the absence of certain athletes. The official website of the competition and the press release from Sport RBC.UA confirm the absence of Oleksandr Zhylyakov in the roster. However, rumors about injuries or personal circumstances often arise in the sports community, which may not immediately become public knowledge. At the moment, the official version states that Zhylyakov was simply not included in the team, but the details of his absence remain a subject of speculation until an official comment from the athlete or the federation.
Tournament expectations
The European Championships in Paris will be an important stage for the Ukrainian swimming team. Despite the absence of one of the leaders, the presence of Vladyslav Bukhov and the progress of young athletes give hope for a successful performance. The team will fight for medals in breaststroke, freestyle, individual medley, butterfly, and backstroke disciplines. The successes of the Ukrainians at this tournament could be a harbinger of new victories at future world championships and Olympic Games.
