The 2018–19 Ukrainian Second League was the 28th since its establishment. The competition started on 21 July 2018 with the match between Myr and FC Nikopol.[1]
The competition entered in recess for a winter break which started after the completion of Round 17 on 11 November 2018 and resumed on 31 March 2019.[2] The season competitions were scheduled to be completed on 1 June 2019[2] (later ending on 25 May 2019 due to reduction of participants) culminating with a two legged play-off for promotion held between the two second place from both groups and the 13th and 14th placed teams from the 2018–19 Ukrainian First League on 29 May and 2 June 2019.[2]
The PFL composition of the league was approved at the PFL Conference on 27 June 2017,[3] yet the final composition with the competition regulations will be approved later by the FFU Executive Committee.
The competition is conducted in a triple round robin format.[1] The PFL reinstated direct promotion and relegation between the Second League and the Ukrainian Amateur Football Championship.[4] Some other administrative changes will be introduced for the season in Second League, such as names on jerseys, the PFL emblem, others.[5] In addition, the FFU approved a list of stadiums for each league.[6]
Each winner of group earns a direct promotion, while each runner will contest additional promotion with 13th/14th places of the First League. In case of the Ukrainian Premier League expansion for the next season, winners and second placed teams will get direct promotion, while in play-off will participate third placed teams.
One team from each group with the worst record will be relegated. Those two teams will be swapped with four teams from the Ukrainian Amateur Football Championship.[7]
The final composition of the league was adopted at the PFL Conference on 27 June 2018.[3][8] In the midst of the previous season some several amateur teams expressed their intention to play in Druha Liha.[9] The following teams have been admitted from the 2017–18 Ukrainian Football Amateur League:[10]
There were two teams relegated from the 2017–18 Ukrainian First League:
The following map displays the location of teams. Group A teams marked in red. Group B teams marked in green.
Notes:
The second places of each group will play-off for the third[65] promotion for the First League. Later with withdrawal of several clubs, the format changed (see 2018–19 Ukrainian First League#Format). The second place runners-up will play with the Persha Liha thirteenth and fourteenth places, yet with expansion of the UPL those teams will receive direct promotion and the third placed teams will be contesting promotion in play-offs.
On 7 May 2019 it was announced that the final game between group winners of the Second League will take place in Kropyvnytskyi.[66]
Kremin Kremenchuk are crowned Champions of the Ukrainian Second League for the 2018–19 season
90 процентов матчей будет в Млынове, там стадион на тысячу мест. А десять процентов матчей, скорее всего, это будет Вараш, где Верес уже играл два матча в Первой лиге. Год Верес в Ровно играть точно не будет. (90 percent probablility that the matches will be in Mlyniv, there is a stadium for a thousand seats. And ten percent chance matches, most likely, will be Varash, where Veres already played two matches in the First League in 2016–17. For one year Veres undoubtedly will not play in Rivne)