The Russian women's national team has begun its preparations at the Novogorsk training center near Moscow. The information was published on the official website of the Russian Volleyball Federation (VFV), which announced that the team's first international tests after FIVB's decision to reinstate Russian national teams will be two friendly matches against Serbia in Belgrade on August 5 and 7.

During the open training session, VFV Secretary General Alexander Yaromenko stated that the Russian Federation expects the next steps for the full return of national and club teams to international tournaments.
"We are awaiting the roadmap from the European Volleyball Confederation, which should define the specific steps for the reintegration of Russian national and club teams. This is a complex process because the participants in the tournaments for the 2026/2027 season have already been determined," commented Yaromenko, quoted by the federation's official website.

While the Russian women's national team is beginning its preparations for its return to the international stage, information has emerged from Poland regarding the next possible step in the process of reintegration of Russian volleyball as a whole.
The well-known Polish journalist Jakub Balcerzak reported that Russia has already submitted an application to participate in the Nations League in 2027. According to his publication, if admitted, the country would return as the highest-ranked outside of the current participants in the tournament. Balcerzak also claims that in September, the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) should make a decision regarding the future of Russian national and club teams in European tournaments.

Currently, however, this information has not been officially confirmed by either FIVB or CEV, and the Polish journalist's publication remains the only public source of these claims.

Meanwhile, the head coach of the women's national team, Konstantin Ushakov, began working with a group of 16 players, among whom are Arina Fedorovtseva (Fenerbahçe), Marina Markova (Vakıfbank), Vita Akimova (Galatasaray), Tatiana Tolok (Igor Gorgonzola Novara), and Irina Voronkova. They will be part of Russia's first friendly matches after more than four years of absence from the international calendar.

photos: volley.ru