Ukrainian Federation of Bandy and Rink-Bandy
The Ukrainian national governing body for bandy and rink bandy.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Ukrainian Federation of Bandy and Rink-Bandy, commonly abbreviated UBRF, is the national governing body for bandy and rink bandy in Ukraine. It was established in 2007 and is based in Dnipro. The federation represents Ukraine within the international bandy structure and became a member of the Federation of International Bandy in 2008. The organization oversees the development and administration of two related winter team sports. Traditional bandy is played on a large ice surface with a ball, sticks and goals, while rink bandy is adapted to a smaller ice rink. Its domestic responsibilities include coordinating regional federations, supporting clubs and athletes, organizing national competitions, and facilitating the participation of Ukrainian teams in international events. The federation’s modern development program took shape in 2012. Since that year, Ukraine’s national men’s bandy championship has been held annually when circumstances have permitted. The first men’s national bandy championship of independent Ukraine was staged on February 26, 2012, in Severodonetsk in the Luhansk region. The federation has also organized Dniprobandy, an international rink-bandy club competition intended to provide regular competitive opportunities for clubs and to promote the sport beyond the national championship system. Ukraine’s men’s national bandy team made its first appearance at the Bandy World Championship in 2013. The team later achieved a notable result in the 2016 tournament by reaching the Division B semi-final stage and winning a bronze medal. Ukraine’s women’s national team entered the international world-championship system for the first time at the 2023 World Bandy Championship. The federation’s work has been significantly affected by the wider security and humanitarian consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, Ukrainian men’s and women’s teams withdrew from world-championship competitions. Sports infrastructure was also damaged: the Saltivskyi Lid rink in Kharkiv, which had hosted the 2021 Ukrainian Rink Bandy Cup, was struck by a Russian rocket attack. Severodonetsk, the site of the first national championship and the home city of Ukrainian international referee Artem Zuyenko, was occupied in 2022. Despite these disruptions, training resumed from September 2022 at the Ice Arena in Dnipro for men’s teams and for boys’ and girls’ youth groups. The federation therefore functions both as a competition administrator and as a development organization attempting to preserve bandy in Ukraine, maintain national teams, and expand participation among younger players. Its principal public identity is national rather than commercial: it does not sell consumer goods, but provides sporting governance, competition organization, representation, and athlete-development services.
History
Bandy has a long history in Ukrainian sporting life, with documented activity predating the creation of the modern national federation. The sport began developing in Mykolaiv in 1920, and a Mykolaiv team traveled to Moscow for the All-Union Olympiad in 1921. The Mykolaiv Yacht Club team won the city championship in 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1924. Bandy also appeared in Kharkiv during the 1921–22 winter season, while a railway-workers’ team was established in Lyman in 1924. Ukrainian teams from Mykolaiv and Kharkiv entered early Soviet competitions but suffered heavy defeats against more established opponents. A stronger result came in 1928, when a Ukrainian Soviet representative team finished second at the Soviet championship held during the Winter Physical Education Festival in Moscow. This remains the highest historical result attributed in the reference material to Ukrainians in that competition. Women’s bandy also appeared early: the first women’s teams were reported in Kharkiv in 1927, where dozens of men’s teams and several women’s teams were registered for local play. After the Second World War, bandy in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic increasingly gave way to ice hockey. Ukrainian clubs made only intermittent appearances in Soviet championships. Teams associated with Kharkiv, Kyiv, Dnipro, Kadiivka and Vinnytsia competed at various levels during the 1950s. Avangard from Budy was particularly prominent in the 1960s through the 1980s and repeatedly won the Ukrainian SSR championship while also appearing in the second tier of Soviet competition. The Ukrainian Federation of Bandy and Rink-Bandy was founded in 2007 to provide an independent national structure for the two sports. Its admission to the Federation of International Bandy in 2008 connected Ukrainian competition with the international bandy system. In 2012, the federation adopted a more developed orientation toward growing bandy in Ukraine. That year it established the modern national championship cycle, with the first men’s championship of independent Ukraine played in Severodonetsk on February 26. The federation subsequently expanded Ukraine’s international presence. The men’s national team first entered the Bandy World Championship in 2013 and earned a bronze medal in Division B in 2016 after reaching the semi-final stage. At club level, the federation organized Dniprobandy, an international rink-bandy competition designed to give clubs cross-border competition. The women’s national team made its first appearance at a world championship in 2023. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine created severe operational challenges. Ukrainian men’s and women’s teams withdrew from world championships in 2022. The Saltivskyi Lid rink in Kharkiv, which had hosted the 2021 Ukrainian Rink Bandy Cup, was struck by a Russian rocket. Severodonetsk, an important site in the federation’s history and the home of international referee Artem Zuyenko, was occupied during the summer of 2022. From September 2022, the federation resumed training at the Ice Arena in Dnipro for men and for boys’ and girls’ teams. These activities indicate an emphasis on continuity, youth development and rebuilding access to the sport under wartime conditions.
- 2023
Women’s national team debuts internationally
[1]Ukraine’s women competed at the World Bandy Championship for the first time.
- 2022
Wartime disruption and training relocation
[1]World-championship teams withdrew, a Kharkiv rink was damaged, and training resumed at the Ice Arena in Dnipro from September.
- 2021
Ukrainian Rink Bandy Cup hosted in Kharkiv
[1]The Saltivskyi Lid rink in Kharkiv hosted the Ukrainian Rink Bandy Cup.
- 2016
Division B bronze medal
[1]Ukraine reached the Division B semi-final and won bronze at the world championship tournament.
- 2013
Ukraine men debut at the world championship
[1]Ukraine’s men’s national bandy team participated in the Bandy World Championship for the first time.
- 2012
Modern national championship era begins
[1]The federation adopted a stronger development orientation and began the annual national men’s championship cycle.
- 2008
International membership
[1]The federation became a member of the Federation of International Bandy.
- 2007
Federation founded
[1]The Ukrainian national federation for bandy and rink bandy was established in Dnipro.
- 1928
Ukrainian representatives finish second in a Soviet championship
[1]A Ukrainian Soviet representative team took second place at the Winter Physical Education Festival championship in Moscow.
- 1927
Women’s bandy teams appear in Kharkiv
[1]The first documented women’s bandy teams in Kharkiv were formed during a period of expanding local participation.
Products and positioning
A national sports federation focused on preserving, regulating and developing bandy and rink bandy in Ukraine, while connecting Ukrainian clubs and national teams with international competition.
National competition · 2012
Ukrainian National Bandy Championship
The federation’s principal domestic men’s bandy competition. The modern championship cycle began in 2012, with the first championship of independent Ukraine held in Severodonetsk on February 26 of that year. The competition provides a national structure for clubs and athletes and supports selection and preparation for international representation.
International club competition
Dniprobandy
An international rink-bandy club competition organized by the federation. Dniprobandy extends the federation’s work beyond national championships by giving clubs an opportunity to compete internationally and by promoting rink bandy as a distinct, accessible form of the sport.
National teams · 2013
Ukraine national bandy teams
The federation coordinates Ukraine’s national representation in international bandy. The men’s team first competed at the world championship in 2013 and won a Division B bronze medal in 2016. The women’s team made its world-championship debut in 2023.
Athlete development · 2022
Youth bandy training
Training and development activity for younger players, including boys’ and girls’ groups. From September 2022, youth training was conducted at the Ice Arena in Dnipro as the federation sought to maintain participation and rebuild the sport during wartime.
Brand decisions
2022
Resumed training in Dnipro during wartimeStrategyBackground
The invasion of Ukraine disrupted international participation, damaged sporting infrastructure and affected cities associated with Ukrainian bandy.
Action taken
From September 2022, training for men and for boys’ and girls’ teams was organized at the Ice Arena in Dnipro.
Aftermath
The move provided a continuing base for athlete preparation and youth development despite the withdrawal of national teams from world championships.
2012
Adopted a modern growth orientation for Ukrainian bandyStrategyBackground
After becoming an international member in 2008, the federation moved toward a more structured national development model in 2012.
Action taken
It established an ongoing national championship framework and emphasized the growth of bandy within Ukraine.
Aftermath
The decision created a regular domestic competition pathway and preceded Ukraine’s first men’s world-championship appearance in 2013.
Recent events
- 2023
Ukraine women make their international world-championship debut[1]
Other
The Ukraine women’s national bandy team competed internationally for the first time at the 2023 World Bandy Championship.
- 2022
Saltivskyi Lid rink in Kharkiv is damaged in a rocket attack[1]
Other
The Kharkiv rink that had hosted the 2021 Ukrainian Rink Bandy Cup was hit during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, damaging an important venue for the sport.
- 2022
Ukrainian teams withdraw from world championships amid the invasion[1]
Other
The Ukrainian men’s and women’s teams withdrew from world-championship participation because of the consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
- 2022
Bandy training resumes at Ice Arena in Dnipro[1]
Other
From September, training for men, boys and girls resumed at Dnipro’s Ice Arena despite wartime disruption.
- 2016
Ukraine wins bronze in Division B at the Bandy World Championship[1]
Other
Ukraine reached the Division B semi-final stage and finished with a bronze medal at the 2016 tournament.
- 2013
Ukraine debuts at the Men’s Bandy World Championship[1]
Other
Ukraine’s men’s national bandy team competed at the world championship for the first time.
- 2012
Ukraine holds its first national bandy championship of the independence era[1]
Other
The first men’s national bandy championship of independent Ukraine was played on February 26 in Severodonetsk, marking a renewed national competition structure.
- 2008
UBRF joins the Federation of International Bandy[1]
Other
The Ukrainian federation became a member of the Federation of International Bandy, giving Ukraine formal representation in the international governing structure for the sport.
Sources2 sources
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