Winter Olympic champions Olena Pidhrushna and Valj Semerenko helped Ukraine to biathlon 4.6km relay World Cup victory in Ruhpolding, Germany on Sunday.
With compatriots Iryna Varvynets and Yiliia Dzhima completing the quartet, Ukraine clocked 1 hour 16 minutes 14.2 seconds to clinch victory.
Hosts Germany had to settle for second place as Karolin Horchler, Miriam Goessner, Maren Hammerschmidt and Laura Dahlmeier finished just 1.2 seconds back.
Trailing in their wake, Italy eventually claimed third place with Lisa Vittozzi, Karin Oberhofer, Alexia Runggaldier and Dorothea Wierer 43.8 seconds off the pace, narrowly edging out Russia.
The World Cup heads to Antholz-Anterselva next week with Italy, Ukraine and Germany all tied at the top of the standings on 108 points.
