Ukraine begins its journey at the 2025 Women’s Volleyball World Championship with a defeat, showing resilience against world leaders
The Ukrainian women’s volleyball national team’s campaign at the 2025 World Championship kicked off with a tough loss.
On August 23, in Thailand, during their first and crucial match, Ukraine faced the reigning world champions — the Serbian team.
Despite strong support from their fans and determined attempts to challenge the favorites, the Ukrainian athletes couldn’t maintain their stamina and succumbed in three sets with scores of 21–25, 19–25, and 17–25.
Throughout the game, the Serb players maintained control, quickly responding to Ukrainian attacks and steadily pulling ahead in the score.
The standout performer for Ukraine was Anna Artishuk, who scored 13 points and contributed significantly to the team’s efforts.
Full match videos and detailed coverage are available on the official federation’s website.
The next game in Group H will take place on August 25, when Ukraine will compete against Japan, with Cameroon also slated as an opponent.
It is noteworthy that Ukraine’s volleyball team has qualified for the World Championship for the first time since 1994, and only the second time in history, thanks to their high world ranking.
This achievement was made possible not only by their appearance on the global stage but also by winning the EuroLeague Gold and earning an invitation to the Nations League.
Ukrainian athletes continue to display remarkable resilience and determination, striving for new victories on the international scene.
Meanwhile, the men’s volleyball team failed to progress to the Nations League playoffs this year.
Additionally, Ukraine’s beach volleyball team made history by winning its first European Championship, demonstrating the country’s growing presence and competitiveness in international volleyball.