The Ukrainian Muaythai Championships 2026 took place in the city of Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk region, bringing together the country’s leading athletes across adult, junior, and youth divisions.

A total of 340 athletes from 14 regions competed, reflecting the continued growth and strength of Muaythai across Ukraine and the depth of its regional development system.

Strong Participation Reflects National Growth

The level of participation highlights the progress of Muaythai in Ukraine, with athletes representing a wide range of regions and competitive levels.

President of the Sports Committee of Ukraine, Illia Shevliak, noted that the high number of participants reflects the development of Muaythai across the country, particularly in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where a strong school of Muaythai continues to produce athletes capable of succeeding on the international stage.

Cities such as Kryvyi Rih and Pokrov have already produced athletes who have achieved international success, reinforcing the importance of regional systems in building national performance.

National Team Selected for 2026 IFMA World Championships

The championships serve as the key selection event for Ukraine’s national teams.

Following the results in Dnipro, the national team has now been formed for two major international events:

  • IFMA Muaythai Senior World Championships 2026 in Malaysia (June)
  • IFMA Muaythai Youth World Championships 2026 in Greece (October)

President of the Ukrainian Muaythai Federation, Pavel Yevtushenko, emphasised the role of the championships in this process, noting that every bout contributes directly to the formation of teams that will represent Ukraine on the IFMA international stage.

This structured pathway ensures that athletes progress from national competition to global performance, maintaining Ukraine’s strong position in international Muaythai.

Cultural Disciplines: Wai Kru Strength and Mai Muay Expansion

In addition to ring competition, Ukraine continues to strengthen its presence in IFMA cultural disciplines.

Over the past years, Ukrainian athletes have consistently achieved podium results in Wai Kru at IFMA World Championships, establishing the country as one of the leading nations in this discipline.

At the 2026 championships, participation in Wai Kru expanded significantly, with athletes competing across more age groups than ever before, reflecting growing interest and development in the cultural side of the sport.

For the first time in the country’s history, Mai Muay was also introduced at the national level. A strong team has now been selected to represent Ukraine internationally, marking an important step in the federation’s commitment to preserving and promoting the full spectrum of Muaythai.

Irina Ladinenko, current European gold medallist in Wai Kru, will represent Ukraine in both Wai Kru and Mai Muay, highlighting the country’s growing depth across cultural disciplines ahead of the IFMA World Championships.

A standout moment in the cultural programme came from the youngest participant, three-year-old Makar Yevtushenko, who performed a full Wai Kru routine for the audience. As the younger brother of current National Wai Kru Champion and IFMA Wai Kru silver medallist Anastasia Yevtushenko, his performance reflected how Muaythai tradition in Ukraine is being carried forward from one generation to the next.

Recognition of Excellence and Achievement

The championships also recognised outstanding performances and contributions within the sport.

Dmytro Shelesko was awarded the prize for Best Technique, highlighting his technical ability throughout the competition.

In recognition of his achievements, Shelesko was also awarded the Order of Merit, 3rd Class, by Presidential decree, presented by Oleksandr Hanzha, Head of the Regional Military Administration.

Further honours included:

  • Ivan Zinchenko (Bars Club, Kryvyi Rih) receiving the title of Honoured Coach of Ukraine
  • Vadym Pavlov (Kharkiv) receiving the title of Master of Sport of Ukraine

These recognitions reflect the continued development of both athletes and coaches within Ukraine’s Muaythai system.

Muaythai Values on Display

The championships also reinforced the core values of Muaythai.

Oleksandr Hanzha highlighted that sport represents discipline, strength, resilience, and health, noting that every athlete who steps into the ring and shows respect to their opponent demonstrates the qualities of a true competitor.

This balance of competition and respect remains central to the sport’s identity.

Looking Ahead

The Ukrainian Muaythai Championships 2026 demonstrated the country’s ability to deliver high-level national competition while continuing to develop both sporting and cultural disciplines.

With national teams now selected for the IFMA Senior World Championships in Malaysia and the IFMA Youth World Championships in Greece, Ukrainian athletes move forward with clear direction and strong preparation.

At the same time, the expansion of Wai Kru and the introduction of Mai Muay signal a broader commitment to the full identity of Muaythai.

Ukraine continues to build a system that develops athletes across all levels, from grassroots participation to international success.

One World. One Muaythai.