Famous Ukrainian coach Oleh Fedorchuk identified the best in the Ukrainian Championship following the October matches of the 2025/2026 season.
Oleh Fedorchuk— Best UPL team according to October matches?
— The month was very ambiguous, in my opinion. I liked three teams — LNZ, which took the maximum points (nine out of nine), «Polissya,» which didn’t lose (seven points), and Luhansk «Zorya» (five points). I take my hat off to Viktor Skrypnyk: he managed to balance his team well, and it immediately reflected in the results.
If we choose the best team, it is undoubtedly LNZ. How could it be otherwise if the team hasn’t lost a single match? (Smiles.) Again, I would like to especially note the coach — Yuriy Ponomaryov. Although he is not very experienced, and LNZ is only his second UPL-level club after «Rukh,» he already has his style, which he successfully instilled in the Cherkasy team. The style, by the way, is very similar to that of «Rukh,» which was effective.
What I admire most about his work is that Ponomaryov knows how to «highlight» young players.
— Team disappointment of October?
— «Oleksandriya.» This team seems to have gone into a tailspin at the start of the championship and can’t get out of it...
But «Kolos» also turned from a «beautiful swan» into an «ugly duckling» in October. But if you choose one team that disappointed the most, I’ll repeat — it’s «Oleksandriya.» Although Volodymyr Nesterenko seemingly has experienced performers, and the lineup is competitive, there is no result. Even «Poltava,» where conditions and resources are much more modest, looked better in October.
— Best coach of October?
— Ponomaryov. He quickly established the game for LNZ, which he only took over in the summer. And this is a serious indicator of the coach’s level.
— Best UPL player according to October battles?
— Prosper Oba (three goals and one assist this month — ed.) played very powerfully. He scored three goals and could have scored more. In my opinion, he is currently one of the most underrated UPL players. A very talented footballer and a great enhancement for the Cherkasy team.
— Best Ukrainian legionnaire of October?
— The choice, to be honest, is small (smiles). It may seem unexpected to someone, but I would name Artem Dovbyk as the best Ukrainian legionnaire in Europe according to October. I note his persistence and character. No matter how difficult it is for him in «Roma» — whether the coach doesn’t see him as a starter, or the partners don’t help — but Artem stands firm, fights for his place in the starting lineup, and fights for his minutes. And he has results: in October, he scored a goal («Parma») and gave an assist (in the match against «Fiorentina»).
— Can we already talk about a «winter champion»? Currently, «Shakhtar» is the most likely contender for this title.
— In October, «Shakhtar,» let’s say, stabilized. Although the results varied — a 1:4 from LNZ, a goalless draw with «Polissya,» and a 4:0 thrashing of «Kudrivka.» But the game of Arda Turan’s proteges, in my opinion, became more cohesive.
I like how Nazarina looks now — aggressive, sometimes even with aspirations of being a leader. Bondarenko also looks good.
I think «Shakhtar» will not relinquish its leadership before the winter break and will remain in first place. The main competitors — «Dynamo,» «Polissya,» and LNZ — are very unstable, and the Cherkasy side’s reserves are quite limited. «Akela» should not miss twice in a row (smiles).
Victor Hlukhenkyi
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