2024–25 Ukrainian First League

The 2024–25 Ukrainian First League is the 34th football league since its establishment. The league competition consisted of 18 teams. The competition is conducting during the ongoing war with the Russia since late February 2022.

Format
The PFL has decided to keep the split group format of double round-robin tournaments with 9 teams in group, total 18 teams. The number of teams has been reduced to 18 compared to the 20 last season. Similar to the last season the top teams will qualify for the promotion tournament, four from each, while less fortunate teams, five from each, will qualify for the relegation tournament. Due to odd number of teams in both groups of the first stage, the second stage groups, promotion and relegation, will not have even number of teams. In total the first stage will have 18 rounds with 72 matches in each group, 16 for each team.

The second stage will have another two groups one for promotion to the top tier, another for relegation to the tier below. The promotion group tournament will consist of 8 teams, top 4 teams from each group (A and B) of the first stage. The teams' record from the previous stage will be grandfathered in full. Each team in the promotion group will play 8 matches with the best four teams of the other group of the first stage (home and away). In total there will be 32 matches. The top two teams of the promotion group will get promotion rights to the Ukrainian Premier League, while the next two teams (3rd and 4th places) would receive a chance to get promotion rights through play-off match-up with the top tier teams.

The teams that would place 5th through 9th in each group (A and B) in the first stage will form the relegation group. The teams' record from the previous stage will be grandfathered in full as well. Each 10 teams of the relegation group will play 10 matches with the 5 teams of the other group of the first stage (home and away). In total there will be 50 matches. The bottom three teams (places 8-10) will gain direct relegation to the tier below (Druha Liha/Ukrainian Second League), while teams that would place 6th and 7th will meet with runners-up of the Druha Liha in play-off match-ups to contest their place in the league.

Teams
This season, Ukrainian First League consisted of 18 teams.

Promoted teams
Two teams were promoted at the end of the 2023–24 Ukrainian Second League.
 * UCSA Tarasivka – playoff winner (debut)
 * PFC Zviahel – playoff winner (debut)

Relegated teams
Two teams were relegated at the end of the 2023–24 Ukrainian Premier League.
 * Metalist 1925 Kharkiv – 16th placed (returning after three seasons)
 * FC Mynai – 15th placed (returning after four seasons)

Temporary relocation
Due to the Russian military aggression, three clubs in the league were forced to relocate.
 * FC Metalist Kharkiv moved to Uzhhorod
 * FSC Mariupol moved to Boryspil
 * FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv moved to Zolocha community (Kyiv suburb)

Administrative admissions

 * FC Kudrivka which has its teams in both Chernihiv and Kyiv regions (representing Irpin) merged and took over Nyva Buzova (Irpin city area). The club withdrew its original team from the lower tier for this season.
 * Due to withdrawal of the Ukrainian Second League (tier 3) champion Druzhba Myrivka, FC Khust, which was defeated in play-off match-up against PFC Zviahel, was allowed to remain in the Persha Liha (tier 2) competitions.
 * On 21 June 2024, it was announced that Podoliany Ternopil (2023–24 AAFU debutants) are merging with FC Khust as FC Khust-Podoliany.

Location map
The following displays the location of teams.

Stadiums
The following stadiums were used as home grounds for the teams in the competition. The minimum capacity for stadiums of the First League clubs is set at 1,500 spectators.

Personnel and sponsorship
Notes:

Round awards

 * Fall half

Relegation play-offs
The relegation–promotion play-off games are scheduled to take place between the 6th and 7th placed teams in the Relegation group of the First League with the second and third placed teams of the Second League.