The 2009–10 Ukrainian First League was the nineteenth since its establishment. There were 18 teams competing. Two teams were relegated from the 2008–09 Ukrainian Premier League. Three teams were promoted from the 2008–09 Ukrainian Second League. Due to the 2009 flu pandemic which affected Ukraine in late October the PFL decide to break for winter earlier than they originally scheduled. The second half of the season began March 11, 2010.[1]
These three teams were promoted from Druha Liha at the start of the season:
Two teams were relegated from the Ukrainian Premier League 2008–09 season
The following displays the location of teams.
Prior to the beginning of the season FC Ihroservice Simferopol failed to pay their license dues for the season. To allow an extra team to be promoted, the PFL determined that a playoff game between the 2nd placed teams from Druha Liha – Arsenal Bila Tserkva and FC Poltava would determine the vacancy. This playoff game was played July 12, 2009.[2]
The following stadiums were used during the season.
Notes:
Однак матч зі «Львовом» прийме стадіон «Центральний» (3100 місць) у селищі міського типу Макарів, що на Київщині. (Match against FC Lviv will be played at Central Stadium (occupancy 3,100) in Makariv, Kyiv Oblast)