The Ukrainian Waterball Federation, led by Oleksandr Svishchov, has announced the launch of a large-scale international campaign to reverse World Aquatics’ disgraceful decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete. Following the international federation’s official announcement of changes to the rules that allow so-called ‘neutral athletes’ to participate in waterball competitions from 2026, the Ukrainian side is preparing a series of strong protest actions.

Oleksandr Svishchov categorically condemned the decision, noting its immorality: ‘At a time when Russia is shelling peaceful Ukrainian cities every day, killing innocent people and destroying the lives of Ukrainian children, international governing bodies are making absurd decisions. During the full-scale war, Ukrainian water soccer players were killed at the hands of the Russians, the swimming pool in Mariupol was destroyed and pools in Kyiv and Kharkiv were damaged.”

Ukrainian federation president Oleksandr Svishchov called on the international community, national federations and the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine to unite to oppose the move. “There can be no neutrality between aggressor and victim”. – he stressed.

According to Svishchov, representatives of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation are already preparing an appeal to all relevant international authorities with a categorical demand to completely cancel the admission of athletes from the aggressor country to any competitions under the auspices of World Aquatics. The Ukrainian side stresses the need for an immediate response from the international sports community to this unprecedented case.