A Debut Season That Shocked the World — VNL 2025 Results, Records and History
Ukraine made their historic debut in the Volleyball Nations League in 2025, entering one of the most competitive annual tournaments in world volleyball for the very first time. What followed was nothing short of remarkable. Without their greatest star and playing under wartime conditions that would have broken lesser programs, the Ukrainian men’s national team delivered one of the most impressive rookie campaigns the competition has ever seen.
This guide covers everything about Ukraine’s journey in the VNL — from how they earned their place in the tournament, to the stunning upsets that caught the world’s attention, the players who made it happen and what comes next for Ukrainian volleyball.
Quick Facts
| Category | Record |
| First VNL season | 2025 |
| VNL editions competed | 1 (Men) |
| 2025 preliminary record | 6 wins – 6 losses |
| Final ranking (2025) | 9th place |
| Qualified for Finals? | No (missed by one spot) |
| Best result | 9th place (2025 debut) |
| Head coach | Raúl Lozano |
| Notable upsets | Beat USA (3–0), Japan (3–2) |
| Top scorer (Week 1) | Illia Kovalov – 73 points after Week 1 |
| VNL Empowerment support | USD 670,000 since 2022 |
How Ukraine Qualified for VNL 2025
Ukraine earned their place in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League as the highest-ranked FIVB national team that had not yet qualified for the competition. The expansion of the men’s tournament from 16 to 18 teams for the 2025 edition created two additional spots, one of which was allocated to Ukraine based on their position in the FIVB World Rankings.
The path to that ranking was built over several years of steady international development. A standout moment came at the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, where Ukraine reached the quarterfinals on their debut — defeating the Netherlands in the Round of 16 before falling to Slovenia. That result announced Ukraine as a team capable of competing at the highest level.
Further momentum came from the 2024 CEV European Golden League, where Ukraine claimed the title and secured the final confirmation needed to meet the qualifying threshold for VNL participation.
The FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program also played a critical role in making this moment possible, providing a total of USD 670,000 in funding to the Ukrainian Volleyball Federation since 2022. That support helped keep the program running through extraordinarily difficult circumstances and allowed the federation to hire experienced head coach Raúl Lozano, a veteran who has previously guided Poland, Iran and Germany at the international level.
A Debut Without Their Greatest Star
Just weeks before the tournament began, Ukraine received significant news: Oleh Plotnytskyi, widely regarded as the country’s best-ever volleyball player and a consistent star at top European clubs, announced his step away from international competition at the age of 27.
Plotnytskyi had been the face of Ukrainian volleyball for nearly a decade. His decision left the national team without its most recognizable performer at the worst possible moment — on the eve of a historic first VNL appearance.
Rather than collapse under the weight of that absence, Ukraine adapted. Outside hitter Yevhenii Kisiliuk, the MVP of the 2024 CEV European Golden League, took on the captain’s role. Middle blockers Yuriy Semenyuk and Maksym Drozd stepped into leadership positions alongside him. A squad built largely of players from the Ukrainian domestic league and the Polish PlusLiga found a collective identity that would define their entire campaign.
Ukraine’s 2025 VNL Campaign: Week by Week
The 2025 Men’s Volleyball Nations League preliminary phase was played across three weeks in June and July, with each team competing in four matches per week. The top eight teams from the combined standings advanced to the Finals in Ningbo, China.
Week 1 — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (June 11–15)
Ukraine opened their VNL debut in Rio de Janeiro against four of world volleyball’s established names: the United States, Brazil, Cuba and Iran.
The opening match set the tone for the entire campaign. Playing against the Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalists and four-time VNL medalists United States, Ukraine won 3–0 (25–22, 25–20, 25–23). It was a statement performance from a team making its first-ever appearance at this level.
They followed up with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Cuba before falling to Brazil and Iran. A 2–2 record in Week 1 was a solid start, and the opening win over the USA had already signaled that Ukraine were no passengers in this competition.
Week 2 — Burgas, Bulgaria (June 25–29)
The second week brought even more drama. Ukraine faced France, Turkey, Japan and Bulgaria.
They opened with a defeat to France, the defending VNL champions and reigning Olympic gold medalists. That result was expected. What followed was not.
Ukraine swept Turkey before producing one of the tournament’s biggest shocks — a 3–2 victory over Japan (24–26, 25–17, 25–18, 22–25, 15–13), the previous year’s silver medalists. Illia Kovalov led the way in a five-set battle that went to the wire in the deciding set. Then, on the final day of the week, Ukraine came back from a set down to defeat Bulgaria 3–1 (20–25, 25–19, 25–24, 25–22) in front of their home crowd.
Three wins from four matches in Week 2 lifted Ukraine to a strong position in the overall standings with a 5–3 record, putting them well inside the qualification zone for the Finals.
Week 3 — Ljubljana, Slovenia (July 16–20)
Entering the final week, Ukraine faced Italy, the Netherlands, Serbia and Canada.
The week opened with a 3–2 victory over the Netherlands, with Vasyl Tupchii contributing 21 points. Then came one of the most dramatic matches of the campaign: Ukraine faced European giants Italy and took the first two sets convincingly (25–15, 25–20), threatening a stunning upset. However, Italy fought back tenaciously to win the fifth set 15–10 and take the match 3–2, denying Ukraine what would have been their biggest result of the season.
The intense campaign ran into physical and tactical difficulty from that point. Serbia defeated Ukraine 3–0, and Canada took the final match of the week 3–1. This late-round stumble proved costly.
When the preliminary phase standings were finalized, Ukraine finished in 9th place — just one position outside the eight-team Finals qualification zone. They won six of their twelve matches, falling incredibly close to the decisive knockout stage.
Match Results — VNL 2025 Preliminary Phase
| Week | Opponent | Result | Score | Location |
| Week 1 | United States | WIN | 3–0 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Week 1 | Cuba | WIN | 3–2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Week 1 | Brazil | LOSS | 0–3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Week 1 | Iran | LOSS | 2–3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Week 2 | France | LOSS | 0–3 | Burgas |
| Week 2 | Turkey | WIN | 3–0 | Burgas |
| Week 2 | Japan | WIN | 3–2 | Burgas |
| Week 2 | Bulgaria | WIN | 3–1 | Burgas |
| Week 3 | Netherlands | WIN | 3–2 | Ljubljana |
| Week 3 | Italy | LOSS | 2–3 | Ljubljana |
| Week 3 | Serbia | LOSS | 0–3 | Ljubljana |
| Week 3 | Canada | LOSS | 1–3 | Ljubljana |
Final Preliminary Phase Standings (2025)
| Rank | Nation | MP | W | L | Sets W:L | PTS |
| 1 | Brazil | 12 | 11 | 1 | 35:11 | 32 |
| 2 | Italy | 12 | 10 | 2 | 33:14 | 28 |
| 3 | France | 12 | 8 | 4 | 30:18 | 24 |
| 4 | Japan | 12 | 8 | 4 | 27:17 | 23 |
| 5 | Poland | 12 | 8 | 4 | 30:20 | 23 |
| 6 | Slovenia | 12 | 7 | 5 | 22:22 | 19 |
| 7 | Cuba | 12 | 6 | 6 | 28:26 | 20 |
| 8 | Iran | 12 | 6 | 6 | 25:24 | 19 |
| 🔴 9 | Ukraine | 12 | 6 | 6 | 25:25 | 18 |
| 10 | Bulgaria | 12 | 6 | 6 | 22:23 | 17 |
| 11 | USA | 12 | 6 | 6 | 21:24 | 17 |
| 12 | Argentina | 12 | 6 | 6 | 24:26 | 16 |
| 13 | Canada | 12 | 5 | 7 | 23:24 | 17 |
| 14 | Germany | 12 | 5 | 7 | 25:27 | 17 |
| 15 | Serbia | 12 | 3 | 9 | 15:29 | 10 |
| 16 | Turkey | 12 | 3 | 9 | 14:28 | 10 |
| 17 | China | 12 | 3 | 9 | 12:30 | 9 |
| 18 | Netherlands | 12 | 1 | 11 | 11:34 | 5 |
Key Players of Ukraine’s VNL 2025 Campaign
The success of Ukraine’s debut was built on a collective effort rather than any single outstanding individual. Several players, however, emerged as defining figures:
- Illia Kovalov (Outside Hitter): Kovalov was Ukraine’s most consistent attacking threat. After the first week, he had 73 points to his name — ranking among the four highest-scoring players across all 18 VNL nations.
- Dmytro Yanchuk (Outside Hitter): Yanchuk delivered one of the individual highlights of the campaign against Japan in Burgas, contributing the crucial point that sealed the dramatic five-set upset in the tie-break.
- Vasyl Tupchii (Opposite): Experienced and technically reliable, Tupchii led Ukraine with 21 points against the Netherlands. As a veteran, he provided vital leadership in the opposite position.
- Yuriy Semenyuk (Middle Blocker & Captain): Semenyuk anchored Ukraine’s defense and was recognized at the end of the preliminary phase as the tournament’s leading blocker, earning a place on the VNL Dream Team with 37 blocks across ten matches.
- Yevhenii Kisiliuk (Outside Hitter): Hailed as a leader through years of European competition and the 2024 CEV European Golden League MVP, Kisiliuk set the standard for the team’s resilient mentality throughout the campaign.
Memorable Moments of Ukraine’s VNL Debut
Opening Day Upset of the USA
Ukraine 3–0 United States — June 11, Rio de Janeiro.
Ukraine’s very first match in Volleyball Nations League history was a massive statement. Facing the Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalists, Ukraine won in straight sets. It remains one of the most striking debut matches in the tournament’s history.
The Japan Five-Set Thriller
Ukraine 3–2 Japan — June 27, Burgas.
The 2024 silver medalists took the opening set before Ukraine found their rhythm and forced a fifth-set decider. Japan led early in the tie-break, but Dmytro Yanchuk’s crucial hit in the closing moments sealed a 15–13 win in the fifth.
The Italy Five-Set Battle
Ukraine 2–3 Italy — July 17, Ljubljana.
One of the most dramatic matches of Ukraine’s debut season. Ukraine took the opening two sets convincingly (25–15, 25–20), threatening one of the tournament’s biggest upsets against the world champions. Even though Italy fought back to take the match, Ukraine’s performance proved they could go toe-to-toe with absolute giants.
Context: Volleyball in Wartime Ukraine
The achievement of Ukraine’s VNL debut cannot be measured purely in wins and losses. The national volleyball program has continued to operate throughout an ongoing conflict that has fundamentally disrupted every aspect of Ukrainian society.
The FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program recognized this reality and has provided sustained financial support to the Ukrainian Volleyball Federation since 2022, covering a total of USD 670,000 in funding. That backing allowed the federation to maintain its coaching structures, appoint Raúl Lozano as head coach and continue developing players who had otherwise been training in difficult and uncertain conditions.
Many members of the squad compete abroad in the Polish PlusLiga and other European leagues, which has allowed the core group to maintain high-level club volleyball throughout the conflict.
What Comes Next for Ukraine in the VNL?
Ukraine’s place in the 2026 Volleyball Nations League is fully secured. Finishing ninth in the 2025 preliminary phase — well above the relegation zone — means the men’s team will return to the competition next season with the benefit of invaluable elite experience behind them.
The women’s national team will also join the VNL for the first time in 2026, following South Korea’s relegation. Ukraine earned that place as the highest-ranked women’s team outside the existing VNL field, meaning both Ukrainian programs will compete at the highest annual level of international volleyball simultaneously for the first time in history.
Following their fighting performance at the late-2025 FIVB World Championship against Pool F opponents like Italy and Belgium, the men’s program enters the 2026 season with massive momentum.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Ukraine first compete in the VNL?
Ukraine made their debut in the Volleyball Nations League in 2025, competing in the men’s tournament for the first time after earning their place via the FIVB World Rankings expansion.
What was Ukraine’s exact record in VNL 2025?
Ukraine finished the preliminary phase with a balanced 6–6 win-loss record, accumulating 18 points and finishing in 9th place, just missing the 8-team Finals qualification zone.
Did Ukraine beat Italy in VNL 2025?
No, but they came incredibly close. Ukraine led 2–0 in sets against Italy in Ljubljana, but the world champions managed to orchestrate a tough comeback, winning the match 3–2.
Who was named to the VNL Dream Team from Ukraine?
Middle blocker Yuriy Semenyuk earned a spot on the VNL 2025 preliminary phase Dream Team after finishing as the competition’s top overall blocker with 37 blocks.
Will the Ukrainian women’s team play in the VNL?
Yes! Starting in the 2026 season, the Ukrainian women’s national team will make their historic debut in the VNL, replacing the relegated South Korean squad.
Quick Summary
- Historic Debut: Ukraine’s men’s team made their first VNL appearance in 2025.
- Balanced Record: They finished 9th with a 6–6 record, missing the Finals by just one spot.
- Giant Slayers: Stunned the USA 3–0, beat Japan 3–2, and pushed Italy to a thrilling 5-set match.
- Individual Glory: Yuriy Semenyuk was named the tournament’s top blocker, joining the Dream Team.
- Next Step (2026): The men’s team remains in the VNL for 2026, and they will be joined by the Ukrainian women’s team making their debut!
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