Sports news, competitions and athletes from Kyiv region and Ukraine
The future of Artem Dovbyk at Roma remains in doubt — after January the forward could leave. Gianluca Di Marzio names several suitors; we examine why this matters for the player's career and for the image of Ukrainian football in Europe.
The British boxer is in stable condition, but the tragedy on the high-speed road raises questions about road safety and accountability — we explain the main facts and consequences.
Nick Kyrgios defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6–3, 6–3 in the exhibition "Battle of the Sexes" in Dubai — more than a show, it was a test of tactics and stamina under modified rules. We examine why the result matters beyond mere spectacle.
British champion injured in a traffic accident while visiting Nigeria — what is known so far, why it matters for the diaspora, and which systemic issues the incident highlights.
Armand Duplantis won the 68th PAP award after setting a 6.30 m world record. Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk is in the top 15 of the ranking; we examine why this matters for Ukraine’s image and sport.
Transfermarkt updated the ranking of the most valuable footballers: three stars at €200 million and a rise in the value of Ukrainian players — a brief look at why this matters for players, clubs and the national team.
FIFA has announced new festivals for players under-15, open to all 211 associations. This technical decision could provide the basis for the gradual reintegration of Russian teams. We examine what the implications are for Ukraine and for European solidarity.
The club has officially confirmed the appointment of Ihor Kostiuk without the "acting" prefix. This is not an emotional decision — it is a vote of confidence in the academy and a pragmatic bet on the team's internal development in both the short and long term.
FIFA has announced $60 tickets for 2026 World Cup matches — good news for fans, but the number of seats is limited and allocation is in the hands of national federations. We examine why this happened and what it means for supporters, including Ukrainians.
FIFA, according to FIFPro, announced the 2025 symbolic XI — PSG took the most places. We examine why one club concentrates so many stars and what consequences this has for the market, tactics, and Ukrainian football.
The FIDE General Assembly on December 14 adopted a decision to allow Russian and Belarusian chess players to participate in international tournaments with the possibility of using national symbols. Sixty-one delegates voted in favor, 51 against.
Dynamo Kyiv lost to Fiorentina 1–2 in a Conference League match. The team conceded first, equalized in the 55th minute, but the opponent snatched victory in the 74th, complicating their chances of advancing.
Tetyana Tarasiuk won the silver medal at the junior stage of the IBU Cup in Goms, Switzerland. In the 7.5 km sprint she had one miss and finished 27.5 seconds behind the leader; it is her first medal at the international level.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency has banned 26‑year‑old Quentin Follio from competing until May 2044, fined him $70,000 and ordered him to repay more than $44,000 for participating in match‑fixing.
The Ukrainian Football Association has designated a stadium in Valencia as the venue for up to two home matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifying play-offs; the schedule for the play-off semi‑final and final has been set.
Oleksandr Usyk took fourth place in The Ring's ranking of the best pound-for-pound boxers of the 21st century. Vasyl Lomachenko is eighth, and Floyd Mayweather was ranked first. Usyk's team plans his return in 2026; he vacated the WBO title on 17 November 2025.
Serhiy Lapin, director of the team of WBA, WBC, IBF and IBO champion Oleksandr Usyk, said the boxer will return to the ring in 2026. Manager Egis Klimas is expected to announce details soon. Earlier, Usyk knocked out Dubois and vacated the WBO title.
Yuriy Vernydub has been appointed head coach of Azerbaijani club Neftçi on a one-and-a-half-year contract. The team is currently eighth in the championship, and his debut is scheduled for December 15. Vernydub has managerial experience with Sheriff Tiraspol and Shakhtyor Soligorsk.
Ukraine national team and Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin was placed fifth in the updated CIES Football Observatory ranking of goalkeepers; his market value was estimated at €45.2 million.
At the 2026 World Cup the referee will stop play in the 22nd minute of each half for a three‑minute hydration break. The rule will apply regardless of temperature, country or whether the stadium has a roof, and is intended to simplify match scheduling for broadcasters.
In the 50m freestyle final, Sheremet clocked 20.81 seconds, setting a new Ukrainian senior record and a world junior record. This is Ukraine's first medal in this event at the European Short Course Championships in 11 years.
The International Sambo Federation (FIAS) has opened the possibility for athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags and with their national anthems at FIAS competitions starting 1 January 2026, following decisions by its executive committee.
In central Kyiv on Khreshchatyk, police detained a local athlete who struck a passerby. The victim sustained a severe traumatic brain injury and a fracture of the temporal bone; the attacker has been formally notified of suspicion.
Nikita Sheremet set a world junior record and simultaneously broke the Ukrainian senior record in the men's 4×50 m freestyle relay at Euro 2025 in Lublin. The team finished fourth, lowering the national time.
European diving champion Sofia Lyskun has been stripped of her place on the national team and all her sporting awards after announcing her move to Russia and acquiring citizenship there. The federation says it will appeal to international bodies.
At the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, organizers received the torch that launches the 63-day relay across Italy ahead of the Games’ opening on February 6. The ceremony was held in a shortened format due to forecasts of heavy rain.
Sofiya Lyskun announced she had obtained a Russian passport and intends to compete for Russia. The athlete said the decision stemmed from dissatisfaction with the training conditions in the Ukrainian national team and mentioned a conflict related to coaching ties.
On December 3, a ceremonial farewell was held at the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Arena for Volodymyr Muntyan, who died on December 1 at the age of 80. The burial took place at Baikove Cemetery; club representatives and well-known footballers attended the event.
Lviv native Karina Ayrapetyan, the sole representative of Ukraine at the 2025 Karate World Championships, took second place in the K30 category (wheelchair kata), losing in the final to Egypt's Fatima Mahmud.
Oracle Red Bull Racing has confirmed the signing of 21‑year‑old Isack Hadjar as its second driver for the 2026 season. He will replace Yuki Tsunoda and join Max Verstappen ahead of major technical changes and the debut of the Red Bull Ford power unit.