1996–97 Ukrainian Second League

The 1996–97 Ukrainian Second League is the sixth season of 3rd level professional football in Ukraine. The competition commenced on 10 August 1996 and ended on 21 June 1997.

Promoted teams
Six teams have been promoted from the 1995–96 Ukrainian Football Amateur League:
 * Pokuttya Kolomyia - Group 1 winner (debut)
 * Papirnyk Malyn - Group 3 winner (debut)
 * Fakel Varva - Group 4 winner (debut)
 * Lokomotyv Smila - Group 3 runner-up (debut)
 * Avanhard Merefa - Group 4 third (debut)
 * Portovyk Kerch - Group 6 winner (debut)

Two teams were added also without participation in the Ukrainian Football Amateur League:
 * Nyva Bershad - undetermined (debut), supposedly instead of Sportinvest Kryvyi Rin (withdrew at the last season winter break, yet placed above the 18th position)
 * FC Petrivtsi - undetermined (debut)

Relegated teams
Two teams have been relegated from the 1995–96 Ukrainian First League:
 * Ratusha Kamyanets-Podilskyi – 21st place (debut)
 * Skala Stryi – 22nd place (debut)

Withdrawn teams

 * Ratusha Kamyanets-Podilskyi
 * Skala Stryi
 * Chayka Sevastopol
 * Druzhba Berdiansk
 * Dnistrovets Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi
 * Nyva-Kosmos Myronivka
 * Avanhard Zhydachiv

Merged and renamed teams

 * Skhid Slavutch changed its name to Nerafa Slavutych.
 * Khutrovyk Tysmenytsia changed its name to FC Tysmenytsia.
 * Obolon Kyiv changed its name to Obolon-PPO Kyiv in cooperation with the Ukrainian Armed Forces (PPO is an abbreviation for Anti-Air Defense).
 * During winter break, Avanhard Merefa moved to Kharkiv and changed its name to Avanhard-Metalist Kharkiv.