The 1986 Football Championship of Ukrainian SSR was won by FC Zorya Luhansk. Qualified for the interzonal playoffs, the team from Luhansk Oblast managed to gain promotion by winning its group.
The season consisted of two stages preliminary and final tournaments. During the preliminary tournament participants were split into two groups of 14 teams in each with the seven best of each group qualifying for the championship group of the next stage and the seven worst played a consolation tournament.
In the final stage of both championship and consolation tournaments teams played home and away only with teams of another group. The winner of championship tournament further participated in the Soviet Second League interzonal playoffs in an effort to gain promotion to the First League, while the worst team of consolation tournament relegated to amateurs.
Teams
Promoted teams
Naftovyk Okhtyrka – Champion of the Fitness clubs competitions (KFK) (debut)
Relegated teams
None
Renamed teams
FC Shakhtar Pavlohrad used to be known as Kolos Mezhyrich and located in one of the city of Pavlohrad's suburbs.
Note: in 1970, Football Championship of Ukrainian SSR included competitions in both Soviet Class A Second Group (upper level) and Soviet Class B (lower level). Next year 1971, Class B was disbanded, while Class A Second Group was changed to the Soviet Second League.