The Ukrainian Premier League has officially announced the schedule for the crucial playoff matches that will determine which clubs secure spots in the UPL for the 2025/26 season.
According to the league's press service, the first leg matches will take place on Thursday, May 29, with Kudrivka hosting Vorskla at 15:30, followed by Livyi Bereh facing Metalist 1925 at 18:00.
The return fixtures are scheduled for Sunday, June 1, with Vorskla welcoming Kudrivka at 13:00, while Metalist 1925 will host Livyi Bereh at 15:30.
The Ukrainian Association of Football has also appointed the officiating crews for the first-leg matches. Dmytro Panchyshyn will referee the Kudrivka-Vorskla fixture with Volodymyr Novokhatniy overseeing VAR duties. Meanwhile, Viktor Kopievskyi will take charge of the Livyi Bereh-Metalist 1925 clash, supported by Andrii Kovalenko on VAR.
Historical data from Statbet shows these playoff matches often produce intense competition as clubs fight for the prestigious top-tier status in Ukrainian football.
The promotion-relegation picture has already seen movement, with Epicenter and SK Poltava securing automatic promotion from the First League to the Premier League, while Chornomorets and Inhulets have been relegated in the opposite direction.
These playoff matches represent the final opportunity for the competing clubs to earn their place among Ukraine's football elite for the upcoming season.
