Fakel, based in the Siberian Russian city of Novy Urnegoy, are making their debut appearance in the 2018 FIVB Men's Club World Championship this year.
Founded in 1996, the club joined Russia's Superleague in 2004, reaching their highest distinction in the competition five years later when they won the bronze medal. They finished 6th in the latest edition of the domestic competition, in 2017-18.
Previously, in 2007 they had claimed their first international title, winning the European Challenge Cup (then known as the CEV Cuo). More recently in this competition they finished runners-up to Italy's Calzedonia Verona in 2016, before picking up their second title in 2017 overcoming France's Chaumont VB 52 twice in the home-and-away finals.