To stop the decline of the once formidable "Podillya," club management decided to make urgent changes to the coaching staff mid-season. Vitaliy Kostyshyn was replaced by a well-known former football player and later successful coach, Serhiy Kovaltsov. This move paid off: the team from the oblast center put up a fight against their fellow Podillyans from "Agrobusiness," resulting in a draw — 1:1.

This latest setback for the leader of Group A was immediately capitalized on by the footballers of "Epicenter," who dismantled "Minay" (4:0) and somewhat reduced their gap from "Agrobusiness."

The remaining spots in the top quartet are fiercely contested.

Note the first victory for the footballers of "Niva" under the leadership of another renowned coach, Yurii Vira — over "Prikarpattia" (2:1).

In Group B, the center of attention was a match in Horyn Plevnya, where "Poltava" hosted their table neighbor — "Kudryvka." The visitors scored twice in the first half and, although they conceded later on, played prudently after halftime and deservedly claimed victory — 2:1. This allowed "Kudryvka" to catch up with "the city dwellers" and surpass them on tiebreakers. Although the hidden leader remains "Poltava," which has played one fewer match.

In this group, six teams still have a chance to rise in class.

Results and standings