The Ukrainian national team received a serious blow less than a month before the start of the Men's European Volleyball Championship. One of the team's key outside hitters, Illia Kovalov, will miss Euro 2026 due to a health problem requiring surgery. This news is particularly important for Bulgaria, as the Ukrainians are among our national team's opponents in Group B in Sofia.
The information about Kovalov's condition comes from Ukraine.Sport.uareported that the outside hitter will not be available to head coach Raul Lozano for the European Championship. The problem was initially revealed by his national team teammate Vasyl Tupchii during a conversation with followers on his Telegram channel. According to him, Kovalov has a health problem and needs surgery, though the specific nature of the injury has not been announced.

A serious loss for Raul Lozano

Kovalov's absence is not just the loss of another player from the extended squad. The outside hitter was among Ukraine's key figures during the 2026 Nations League and played an important role in both attack and reception.
The UkrainianSport.uanotes that Kovalov was the best Ukrainian volleyball player in terms of reception quality in VNL 2026. This makes his absence even more significant for the balance in Lozano's squad.
Ukraine made a historic performance in this year's Nations League, reaching the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time. Now, however, Lozano will have to rearrange his reception for the most important competition in the second half of the season.

The Ukrainian staff confirmed Kovalov's absence

A day after the information about the upcoming surgery emerged, confirmation came directly from the national team's camp.
ToVolleyball.uaRaul Lozano's assistant Agustin Briscoli confirmed that Kovalov is not with the team due to health problems. The Ukrainians are conducting part of their preparation in Tallinn, where Lozano is working with a group of 18 volleyball players.

Plotnytskyi is in the squad, Poluian returns

Despite the heavy loss, Raul Lozano has almost all other key players available.
The biggest name among the outside hitters is Oleh Plotnytskyi. The Perugia volleyball player is part of the training group, and in Kovalov's absence, his role in attack and reception will logically be even greater.
The good news for the Ukrainians is the return of Tymofii Poluian. The outside hitter missed the Nations League due to injury, but is now training with the national team. According to information from Ukraine, he is gradually regaining his rhythm after hand surgery.
Thus, in Kovalov's absence, Lozano has Oleh Plotnytskyi, Dmytro Yanchuk, Yevhen Kisiliuk, Tymofii Poluian, and Oleksandr Nalozhnyi at the outside hitter position.

Boyko also returns

The other return is Oleksandr Boyko, who also missed the Nations League this summer due to injury.
Lozano's assistant Agustin Briscoli commented toVolleyball.ua, that Boyko replaced his younger brother Yevhen in the squad and is in excellent physical condition.
However, in the squad published by the Ukrainian media, there is a curious discrepancy – Oleksandr Boyko is listed simultaneously among the opposites and the liberos.

18 volleyball players are preparing for Euro 2026

Raul Lozano is currently working with the following group:
Setters: Vitaliy Shchitkov, Yuriy Synytsia, Serhiy Yevstratov
Opposites: Maksym Tonkonoh, Vasyl Tupchii, Oleksandr Boyko
Outside Hitters: Oleh Plotnytskyi, Dmytro Yanchuk, Yevhen Kisiliuk, Tymofiy Poluian, Oleksandr Nalozhnyi
Middle Blockers: Maksym Drozd, Denys Veletskyi, Yuriy Semeniuk, Vladyslav Shchurov, Andriy Cheleniak
Liberos: Oleksandr Boyko, Yaroslav Pampushko
Among the key figures, besides Plotnytskyi, is Yuriy Semeniuk. The middle blocker of Projekt Warszawa remains an important part of Lozano's selection, and the experienced opposite Vasyl Tupchii is also in the squad. Kavalov's absence certainly changes some of Raul Lozano's plans. Ukraine retains serious individual class with Plotnytskyi, Semeniuk, Tupchii, and its other leading players, but loses one of its most stable outside hitters from the historic performance in VNL 2026.
For Bulgaria, this is significant news before the direct match in Sofia. Lozano has enough options to compensate for Kavalov's absence, but will have to find a new balance in reception – an element in which the injured volleyball player was among Ukraine's most important figures this summer.