Nazarіy Rusyn Joins Karpaty
Striker Nazarіy Rusyn has officially joined Lviv-based Karpaty, signing a three-year contract that includes an option for an additional season. The 25-year-old arrived on a free transfer after negotiating an early termination of his deal with English club Sunderland. A native of Novoyavorivsk, Rusyn developed through the FC Lviv academy system and made his senior debut during the 2017/18 campaign with Dynamo Kyiv. He has also played for Zorya Luhansk and Dnipro-1.
Sunderland originally acquired Rusyn for €2.5 million at the end of the summer 2023 transfer window. During his time there, he appeared in 32 matches, scoring two goals and providing one assist. He also had loan spells at Hajduk Split and Arka Gdynia.
Preparations for the New UPL Season
Ahead of the 2026/27 Ukrainian Premier League season, defending champions Shakhtar Donetsk will begin their title defense with an away match against Kudrivka. Dynamo Kyiv will face city rivals Livyi Bereh in a capital derby. The opening round is tentatively scheduled for August 1. Several key fixtures are lined up for Matchday 1, including:
- Kryvbas – Karpaty
- Bukovyna – LNZ
- Dynamo – Livyi Bereh
- Zorya – Kolos
- Kharkiv – Veres
- Kudrivka – Shakhtar
- Chornomorets – Polissya
- Epitsentr – Obolon
The highly anticipated clash between Shakhtar and Dynamo is scheduled for November 7 and May 15.
The UPL continues its tradition of honoring top coaches. The Best UPL Coach award was first presented after the 2008/09 season, with Mircea Lucescu being the inaugural winner. He remains the record holder with seven such honors. Other notable recipients include Serhiy Rebrov, Paulo Fonseca, Viktor Skrypnyk, and recent winners such as Patrick van Leeuwen and Arda Turan.
Recent awardees include Ruslan Rotan (2024/25) and Arda Turan (2025/26), highlighting the intense competition and growing quality of coaching in Ukrainian football.
Rusyn's move to Karpaty could mark a significant step in his career, as he returns to his hometown and gets a fresh opportunity to prove himself with a new squad.
This transfer also underscores Karpaty's active approach in the market, which may boost their prospects in upcoming competitions. The new UPL season promises to be compelling, featuring numerous exciting matchups—especially the anticipated encounters between league heavyweights like Shakhtar and Dynamo. This reflects the rising competitiveness in Ukrainian football and the continued development of both coaching talent and player skill.
As the excitement builds for the upcoming UPL season, fans can look forward to crucial matchups, including the much-anticipated derby between Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv. For a complete overview of the season's schedule and key dates, including the thrilling clashes that lie ahead, check out the detailed breakdown in our article on the 2026/27 UPL season fixtures.