According to the results of the first stage, the top five clubs will form a group where they will compete for promotion to the higher league. The other participants will strive to retain their place in the first league.

Therefore, according to the approved schedule, two of the strongest teams will directly enter the UPL. Those finishing third and fourth will play transitional matches against clubs occupying 13th and 14th positions in the elite division.

A fierce battle is expected for survival as well. The first league will lose three relegation-threatened teams (18th to 20th places), while those finishing 16th and 17th will play transitional matches against opponents finishing second and third in the second league.

After last season's failure of the «Karpaty» team to make it into the UPL, Lviv mentioned the experienced Myron Markevych, who was once again entrusted with being the coach of the green and whites after a long break. The task in the club is one - to return to the elite. By the way, Myron's son, Ostap, will assist him.

There were changes on the coaching bench in several other teams as well. «Metalist» was led by Andriy Anishchenko after being relegated, while «Ingulets» - Vladyslav Lupashko, Vasyl Malik will again be responsible for preparing the Ternopil «Niva», and a club with the same name from Buzova will be overseen by Igor Zhabchenko. «Left Bank» will be coached by Vitaliy Perpak, while «Girnyk» - Valeriy Kutsenko.

Of course, the biggest upheavals are expected at «Karpaty», which immediately released 15 players. Eight young newcomers have signed contracts with green and whites so far, among them is a whole group of former Metalist players. Significant personnel changes will not be avoided by «Ingulets» as well.

First League-2023/2024. Participants' Composition

Group A: «Agrobiznes» (Volochysk), «Bukovyna» (Chernivtsi), «Epicerent» (Dunayevtsy), «Karpaty» (Lviv), «Metalist» (Kharkiv), «Niva» (Ternopil), «Niva» (Buzova), «Podillya» (Khmelnytskyi), «Prykarpattia» (Ivano-Frankivsk), «Hust».

Group B: «Victoria» (Mykolayivka), «Girnyk-Sport» (Horodysche Plevne), «Dinaz» (Vishhorod), «Ingulets» (Petrove), «Kremenchuk», «Mariupol», «Metallurg» (Zaporizhzhia), «Poltava», «Left Bank» (Kyiv), «Chernihiv».