Ukraine has wrapped up its campaign at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, but the fight is far from over.
With their home country having been in conflict with Russia for the past several years, Ukraine is fighting for something bigger than sports.
Despite facing stronger, more experienced teams in the World Championship, captain Yurii Semeniuk remains hopeful that the team’s efforts will leave a positive mark.
“Of course, Ukrainians never give up. We try to finish this situation in Ukraine, this war, this difficult time now in Ukraine [for the] last three, four, five years and more,” he said.
Even with limited preparation time, the Ukrainian team made their country proud, finishing with a 1-2 record and giving defending champion Italy a tough challenge in their final game on Thursday night.
As Ukraine continues to endure the conflict back home, Semeniuk said the team is eager to work harder for future competitions.
“It’s difficult because we lost, and we had some chances, but now we go home,” he said.
“We need more work and a better team before we play more games. Because now, in the World Championship, we only had two games [to prepare].”
On the wall at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, a message scrawled by the players themselves reads: Glory to Ukraine.
“Of course, Ukrainians will be tired, but we Ukrainians never give up,” he added.
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