FC Dynamo Kyiv were the defending champions.
Vyshcha Liha became a member of the newly established Professional Football League of Ukraine.
[1] Just before the start of new 1996–97 season a scandal took place related to ownership.
[2] Dmytro Zlobenko was removed from the club which with help of the Army was passed to some businessman by name of Mikhail Grinshpon, a president of "Kyiv–Donbas".
[3] Concurrently, Mikhail Grinshpon was an adviser to the Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksandr Kuzmuk.