The Water Polo Federation of Ukraine is an all-Ukrainian public organization that aims to develop water polo in Ukraine, conducts official competitions in this sport, is an affiliated member of FINA and LEN – the International Swimming Federation and the European Swimming Federation, cooperates with the National Olympic Committee and others Ukrainian and international sports organizations. In its activity, it is governed by the Statute, the latest version of which was adopted on March 13, 2020. The Water Polo Federation of Ukraine was officially registered on July 8, 2005. As of November 2021, the legal address of FVPU, Kyiv, str. Frolivska bldg. 3/34, office 21-22, postal address, Kyiv, str. Dragomirova Mykhaila, 7, 169 “A”.
The declaration of Ukraine’s independence opened a new stage in the development of water polo in Ukraine. In 1991, Ukrainian clubs interrupted their performances in the last championship of the USSR, which was held in Kyiv. In the spring of 1992, a short transitional championship of Ukraine was held with the participation of seven teams: Kyiv and Lviv “Dynamo”, “Lokomotiv” Kharkiv, the Mariupol national team, “Poligrafist” Lviv, the team of the Black Sea Navy from Sevastopol. In the autumn of 1992, the II championship of Ukraine began, which was held according to the autumn-spring system. Also in 1992, championships of Ukraine among women, young men of all age categories and cup competitions were started. At the same time, the Water Polo Federation of Ukraine was founded, which operated without official registration until 2005.
From the very beginning, all water polo teams of Ukraine were divided into two leagues: the higher and the first, and starting from the 2017-2018 season, the division into the super league and the higher league took place.
Starting from 2021, all matches of Ukrainian water polo teams will be broadcast online. In October 2021, FVPU named the development of children’s water polo as one of its priorities. On November 28, 2021, the men’s national team of Ukraine won the Nations League for the first time in its history – the tournament was held in the Czech Republic.
On June 17, 2021, Oleksandr Yuriyovich Svishchov, who also remains the president of VC “Dynamo”, Lviv, became the president of FVPU on June 17, 2021. At the same time, Oleksandr Kucherenko, who had been the chairman of the FVPU since 2000, became the honorary president of the organization.
The founders of the Water Polo Federation of Ukraine are Valery Petrovych Dorofeev (judge of the national category) and Volodymyr Ivanovich Vysotin, and the first president in 1993 was Vadym Mykolayovych Chernov (vice-rector of the Lviv State Institute of Physical Education). In 1997-1999, Oleksiy Barkalov was the president of the Federation. Oleksandr Koval, Yosyp Fedorovych Zemtsov, Oleksandr Kucherenko were also the heads of the Federation in different years.
