Oleksandr Kobets, ex-Budivelnyk forward, signs with Poland's UJK Kielce

Oleksandr Kobets, ex-Budivelnyk forward, signs with Poland's UJK Kielce AI

Oleksandr Kobets, a 30-year-old forward who previously played for Kyiv’s Budivelnyk and Cherkaski Mavpy, has signed with UJK Kielce of Poland’s Second League for the 2026/27 season. His career includes stints in France, Lithuania and Portugal and a past investigation later cleared by Ukraine’s federation. Kobets is a familiar name for Kyiv fans after his time with Budivelnyk; his move tracks another Ukrainian pro continuing their career in Poland.

Polish club UJK Kielce officially announced the signing of 30-year-old forward Oleksandr Kobets for the 2026/27 season in Poland’s Second League (the country’s third-tier division). Sport.ua reports the club posted the news on Instagram.

Kobets has played professionally in Ukraine, France, Lithuania and Portugal. In Ukraine he turned out for Cherkaski Mavpy and Kyiv’s Budivelnyk, and he was capped in four games for the national team, averaging 3.3 points. He also took part in the 2018 NBA Summer League with Chicago, held a contract with the Washington Wizards and played in their G League system.

In 2020 Cherkaski Mavpy expelled Kobets amid suspicions of match-result manipulation; the Basketball Federation of Ukraine later cleared him, according to Sport.ua.

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