A Russian national women’s water polo team defeated Argentina 33-11 in a second division competition in Malta on Monday, marking the first time Russia has participated under its national flag and anthem at a major international event since 2022.

The victory follows World Aquatics’ decision to lift all restrictions imposed on Russian and Belarusian athletes over the Ukraine conflict. The global federation, which oversees competitions in swimming, diving, high diving, artistic swimming, water polo, and open-water swimming, has been gradually easing these restrictions since early 2024, with full lifting occurring this month.

According to World Aquatics, senior athletes holding Russian or Belarusian sport nationalities will now compete in the same manner as those from other nations, using their respective uniforms, flags, and anthems.

Ukraine’s men’s team withdrew from the event in protest following the decision. The move has drawn sharp criticism from Kyiv and its allies, with EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef condemning the ruling as a “grave mistake” and stating that the European Union would not “accept this normalization.”

In recent months, multiple international sports bodies have restored rights for Russian athletes to compete at global events under neutral status without national flags or anthems. The International Sambo Federation (FIAS) cleared Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags and anthems late last year.

Russian officials have repeatedly accused Western countries of politicizing sport and pressuring federations to exclude athletes, as well as adhering to double standards.