According to the words of PFL President Oleksandr Kadenko, it is still difficult to say how many clubs will participate in the second-tier championship of Ukraine. So far, there are principal agreements with 10 teams, including a subsidiary team of the first-league "Kremen." However, efforts are being made to have 12 participants.

On July 29, PFL leadership plans to hold another meeting with potential second-tier tournament participants, and by early August, the PFL Conference should approve the final lineup.

For now, we will highlight the debutant of the second division — FC "VAST" from Mykolaiv, which is specifically preparing for new challenges. Initially, Artem Chorniy's wards trained in Yaremche, Ivano-Frankivsk region, and then relocated to Tyachiv, Zakarpattia Oblast. By the way, the Mykolaiv team played friendly matches not only with amateurs but also with champions: they lost 0-2 to "Karpaty" in Lviv and in Mynai — a representative of the elite Ukrainian football.

In contrast, Chernivtsi's "Bukovyna" is still testing relations only in friendlies against amateurs. On July 30, they have scheduled a match with neighbors from "Epitsentr." Only after this will it be determined the fate of those players who are currently on trial. However, losses already exist — defender Emre Manuila has left Bukovyna's roster.

It is reassuring that "Chernihiv" will be among the participants in the championship. Unfortunately, club infrastructure was damaged by Russian aggression, but leadership is making efforts to ensure that "city dwellers" start the season fully equipped.

Players of Vinnytsia's "Niva" suffered a heavy defeat from a UPL representative "Ruh" — 0-5. The Podolian team mainly consisted of local football graduates, but club selectors are not giving up. After returning from Lviv, they signed a contract with Yevhen Moroz, who previously defended the colors of "Sumy."