All first league teams participating under the PFU banner must inform the league leadership by March 1st whether they will conduct spring calendar matches with spectators and what number of fans they are planning based on security guarantees. Currently, the preparations of top-division clubs — are in full swing.

Leaders — FC Karpaty players — after a few-day break returned to Uzhhorod where they conduct another training camp. Three friendlies are scheduled. By the way, the final stage of preparation will take place in Lviv and will end with a friendly match against the Ukrainian champions — FC Shakhtar. The coach of green-and-whites Miron Markevych is looking for reinforcements in the attacking line, particularly negotiations are ongoing with Brazilian foreigner Arielson who last fall defended the colors of FC Polissya.

Meanwhile, the closest pursuer of Lvivians, FC Ingulets, has already become a winner of the tournament dedicated to the football association of Poltava region in February. In the final, underlings of Vladyslav Lupashko snatched victory from FC Kremen — 3:2 and then took another hill in a friendly match against FC Chornomorets — 3:1. As for FC Kremen, it has rented Veres's goalkeeper Arseniy Korokdim.

FC Bukovyna finally has the opportunity to conduct training outside Chernivtsi. Now underlings of Andriy Melnyk are stationed near Uzhhorod where they have already won two friendlies: against FC Agrobiznes — 2:0 and FC Skala 1911 — 3:1. The ranks of Bukovynians were reinforced by goalkeeper Danylo Kanevcev from Georgian FC Diya and defender Maxim Lopirionok from FC LNZ.

FC Dnister is also active on the transfer market, counting on experienced newcomers to save them from relegation. The latest newcomers are rented players from FC Metalist 1925 veterans Andriy Tkachuk and Yaroslav Martyniuk. In their last friendly match, the team from Vishhorod took a hill over the leader of the second league — FC Zviazhele — 2:1.

As for Dnipro's FC Metalurh, they lost their main striker — Ruslan Buryak — due to injury until the end of the season. Underlings of Volodymyr Mykytyn have yet to decide where they will conduct home matches. Priority is given to Horynske Plyny and Dnipro. Their next friendly match will be on March 2nd — against FC Ingulets.

The last among first-division teams to start preparations for the spring part of the season are FC Podillya players. The first winter newcomer to Podillia is utility player Kyrylo Pasiichnyk who previously played for FC Bukovyna. But in yesterday's friendly match against FC Viktoriya, he did not help keep the goal clean. Sergei Kopil, rented by Sumyans from LNZ, tipped the scales with a decisive strike — 1:0.

Match results and league standings

Distribution of participants after the first stage into groups "Championship" and "Relegation"