As preparations gear up for the 29th Winter Universiade, which is being held in central Siberia, a spokesperson for the International University Sports Federation (FISU) told insidethegames: "Ukraine has confirmed entry for the Napoli 2019 Summer Universiade".

They added that the Ukrainian city of Dnipro is set to host the World University Waterski Championships in 2020.

Last March Ukraine's Government banned its athletes from competing at any events in Russia in protest against their neighbour's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and amidst ongoing tensions in the region.

Russia's involvement in the ongoing doping scandal was also invoked as another reason for refusing to participate.

The Government in Kyiv later altered its position to recommending that athletes do not compete in Russia and warned them that, if they decide to do so, their trip will not be funded.

In December, FISU President Oleg Matytsin told insidethegames that his Federation was willing to pay the costs of Ukraine athletes to take part in the Krasnoyarsk Winter Universiade, but the offer was not taken up.

On February 18, Ukraine also refused to take part in the final International Luge Federation World Cup event of the season, being held in Russian city Sochi this weekend.

The Naples 2019 Summer Universiade is due to run from July 3 to 14 in the Italian city.

Today's Big Read of Krasnoyarsk 2019 can be read here.