The head coach of the Ukrainian women's biathlon team, Mikola Zots, has decided on the main team composition for the 2026 Olympic Games, which will be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo from February 6 to 22. The application included five athletes, another biathlete will be taken on as a reserve following the results of the European Championship.

As Zots reported in a commentary to Suspilne Sport, the main composition of the Ukrainian national team for the 2026 Olympics included Khristina Dmitrenko, Yulia Dzhima, Darina Chalyk, Olena Gorodna and Alexandra Merkushina. Another place in the team is provided for the reserve, for which Anastasia Merkushina, Valeria Dmitrenko and Liliya Steblina are vying for. The final decision on the reserve biathlete will be made after performances at the European Championships.

“They are going to the European Championships, but if, God forbid, something happens, some accident, then it will be possible to replace. But the five biathletes I named are going to the Olympics,” said Mikola Zots.

Of the announced lineup, only Yulia Jima has experience of performing at the Olympic Games.

The 2026 Games will be the fourth in her career, and at her debut Olympics in Sochi she won gold as part of the women's relay.

Kristina Dmitrenko is currently the only Ukrainian biathlete with points in the World Cup of the 2025/26 season before the stage in Nove Mesto and made her debut in the main team in the 2024/25 season.

Alexandra Merkushina has been performing at the World Cup level since the 2022/23 season and became a regular starter last season, while for Darina Chalik and Olena Gorodnoy the current season is only the second in the main team.