2023–24 Ukrainian First League

The 2023–24 Ukrainian First League was the 33rd football league since its establishment. The league competition consisted of 20 teams. The competition is conducting during the ongoing war with the Russia since late February 2022. It was decided to conduct competitions in two groups.

The competitions were officially approved by the Ukrainian Association of Football Executive Committee only two days before the start of the season. Matches of the First League were the first games of the 2023–24 season.

Format

Due to the Russo-Ukrainian War, the league competitions changed its usual format. The Professional Football League of Ukraine (PFL) Conference adopted changes to the 2022–23 season after some 24 PFL teams were forced to suspend their activities or dissolve. It was decided to keep the number of participants at 20, but split them in two groups of 10.

The competitions are scheduled to consist of two stages. At the first stage two groups of 10 would conduct a usual double round-robin tournament. At the second stage, the top five from each group form the promotion group, while the bottom five from each group – the relegation group. Points earned at the first stage will be kept for the second, while teams would only be playing with participants of the group. So, in total each team is expected to play 28 games. The top two teams of the promotion group receive direct promotion to the Ukrainian Premier League (UPL), while the 3rd and the 4th would play promotion relegation play-off with the 14th and the 13th teams of UPL, respectively. In case if Desna and Mariupol would decide to return, play-off games will be canceled and the UPL will be expanded.

Later it was clarified that for the second stage teams will be keeping all their points, unlike in the previous season when clubs only kept points with their opponents that joined them for the second stage from the first stage.

Teams

This season, Ukrainian First League consisted of 20 teams.

Promoted and returning teams

Two teams were promoted at the end of the 2022–23 Ukrainian Second League.
* Nyva Buzova – first place ''(debut)''
* FC Khust – playoff winner ''(debut)''

Two more teams were allowed to return as members of the 2021–22 Ukrainian First League.
* Ahrobiznes Volochysk – ''(returning after a season)''
* Podillya Khmelnytskyi – ''(returning after a season)''

Two more were promoted from the 2021–22 Ukrainian Second League.
* Viktoriya Sumy – merger ''(debut, in place of Alians Lypova Dolyna)''
* Livyi Bereh Kyiv – Group A second place ''(debut)''

Relegated teams

Two teams were relegated at the end of the 2022–23 Ukrainian Premier League.
* Metalist Kharkiv – 15th placed ''(returning after a season)''
* Inhulets Petrove – playoff losing team ''(returning after two seasons)''

Relocated teams

Due to the Russian military aggression, three clubs in the league were forced to relocate.
* FC Metalist Kharkiv moved to Uzhhorod
* FC Metalurh Zaporizhzhia moved to Uman
* FSC Mariupol moved to Boryspil

Withdrawn teams

The 31st PFL Conference stripped five clubs of their membership in the Professional Football League due to no reply and non-payment of dues. The conference approved to reserve membership for some other clubs without their actual active participation in competitions this season.

Teams with "conservated membership"

FC Lviv (relegated), Skoruk Tomakivka, FC Uzhhorod, FC Kramatorsk, VPK-Ahro Shevchenkivka

Teams with "conservated membership" removed

Olimpik Donetsk, Volyn Lutsk

Reorganization

* Nyva Buzova changed its owner. On 14 December 2023 it was announced that original owner abandoned the club, and it was passed on to another club FC Kudrivka ( Second League) which plans to relocate to Kyiv suburb of Irpin next season. The announcement appeared a day before the second stage draw. Earlier on 1 December 2023 Ihor Zhabchenko has confirmed the club's intent to withdraw from competitions. On 5 January 2024 it was announced that the head coach of the second tier Kudrivka Roman Loktionov became the head coach of Nyva Buzova. Following the merger, Nyva Buzova changed its name to Kudrivka-Nyva.Кудрівка-Нива підсилилася чемпіоном Європи: якісний форвард має серйозний досвід виступів за кордоном
ukrfootball.ua. 1 February 2024

Location map

The following displays the location of teams. Group A teams marked in red. Group B teams marked in green.

Stadiums

The following stadiums were used as home grounds for the teams in the competition.

Personnel and sponsorship

''Notes:''

Managerial changes

Group A league table

Results

Group A results by week

Group A goalscorers

Group A clean sheets

Group B league table

Results

Group B results by week

Group B goalscorers

Group B clean sheets

Promotion group league table

Promotion group results

Promotion group results by week

Promotion group goalscorers

Promotion group clean sheets

Relegation group league table

Relegation group results

Relegation group results by week

Relegation group goalscorers

Relegation group clean sheets

Awards

Monthly awards

Round awards

;Fall half

;Spring half

Relegation play-offs

The relegation–promotion play-off games are scheduled to take place between the 6th and 7th placed teams in the Relegation group of the First League with the second and third placed teams of the Second League.

Number of teams by region

See also

* 2023–24 Ukrainian Premier League
* 2023–24 Ukrainian Second League
* 2023–24 Ukrainian Football Amateur League

References

External links

The season's regulations
pfl.ua.

The season's playing calendar
pfl.ua.

{{DEFAULTSORT:2023-24 Ukrainian First League
Ukrainian First League seasons
2023–24 in Ukrainian association football leagues
Ukraine
Sports events affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine