UPL returns: 17th round (20–23 February) — key matches and who’s in the European places
After the winter break, the championship resumes: a brief look at the standings, the key matchups of the 17th round, and where to watch the games — important for fans and clubs fighting for European places.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
February 20, 2026 · 2 min read
Return of the UPL: what it means for the season
Today the Ukrainian Premier League officially resumes the season after the winter break, reports UNN. This is not just the return of matches — it's a test of the teams' readiness after training camps and the first indicator of who will be able to maintain the pace in the decisive part of the season.
“Today the Ukrainian Premier League (UPL) officially resumes the season after the winter break”
— UNN
Who leads and what's at stake
At the start of the second half the table looks like this: LNZ (Cherkasy) — 35 points, Shakhtar (Donetsk) — 35 points, Polissia (Zhytomyr) — 30 points, Dynamo (Kyiv) — 26 points. For the top four, this is a period when every match can change the distribution of European places.
In this situation, not only individual performers but also the preparation system, squad rotation and match logistics play a decisive role — factors that often remain out of the headlines but give an advantage in the second half of the championship.
Where and when to watch the 17th round
The first match of the second part of the season kicked off at 15:30 in Rivne: Veres — SC Poltava. The main fixture of the day is at 18:00 in Kyiv: Dynamo — Rukh. Broadcasts are provided by UPL.TV, also available on MEGOGO.
- 20 February (Friday): Veres — Poltava — 15:30; Dynamo — Rukh — 18:00;
- 21 February (Saturday): Epicentr — LNZ — 13:00; Metalist 1925 — Kryvbas — 15:30;
- 22 February (Sunday): Kolos — Polissia — 13:00; Shakhtar — Karpaty — 15:30;
- 23 February (Monday): Oleksandriya — Obolon — 13:00; Kudrivka — Zorya — 15:30.
What to expect
For the tournament leaders this round is an opportunity to solidify positions or lose initiative. For mid-table teams — a chance to pick up tempo and move closer to the European zone. Football during wartime retains a role not only as a sport but also as a symbol of normal routine and stability — which gives each match additional weight for fans and communities.
After the round it will become clearer which contenders are strengthening their ambitions and who will have to revise tactics. It's up to the clubs now — will Dynamo manage to catch up with the leaders, or will LNZ and Shakhtar consolidate their advantage?
