# 1996 Russian Third League

The 1996 Russian Third League was the 3rd time competition on the fourth level of Russian football was professional. There were 6 zones with 102 teams starting the competition (6 were excluded before the end of the season).

## Zone 1
### Overview

| Team | Head coach |
| FC Spartak Anapa | Igor Zazroyev |
| FC Venets Gulkevichi | Anatoli Lyz |
| FC Dynamo-d Stavropol | |
| FC Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody | Aleksandr Babayan |
| FC Nart Cherkessk | Nurbiy Lakhov |
| FC Dynamo-Imamat Makhachkala | Igor Korolyov |
| FC Kuban-d Krasnodar | |
| FC Anzhi-2 Kaspiysk | Aleksandr Reshetnyak |
| FC Mozdok | Vladimir Purikhov |
| FC Astrateks Astrakhan | Boris Bashkin |
| FC Nart Nartkala | Basir Nauruzov |
| FC Derbent | Romez Arzumanyan |
| FC Kabardey-ZET Nizhny Cherek | Aniuar Tkhazeplov |
| FC Kommunalnik-Druzhba-d Maykop | |
| PFC Spartak-d Nalchik | |
| FC Beshtau Lermontov | Dmitri Skryabin |
| FC Uralan-d Elista | |
| FC Gofrokarton Digora | Arsen Tsagolov |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Spartak Anapa (A) | 34 | 26 | 2 | 6 | 105 | 24 | +81 | 80 | Promotion to Second League |
| 2 | Venets Gulkevichi (A) | 34 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 62 | 33 | +29 | 67 | Promotion to Second League |
| 3 | Dynamo-d Stavropol | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 56 | 44 | +12 | 63 | |
| 4 | Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 59 | 35 | +24 | 61 | |
| 5 | Nart Cherkessk | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 49 | 34 | +15 | 59 | |
| 6 | Dynamo-Imamat Makhachkala | 34 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 56 | 42 | +14 | 58 | |
| 7 | Kuban-d Krasnodar | 34 | 18 | 3 | 13 | 72 | 59 | +13 | 57 | |
| 8 | Anzhi-2 Kaspiysk | 34 | 17 | 3 | 14 | 67 | 56 | +11 | 54 | |
| 9 | Mozdok | 34 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 66 | 42 | +24 | 52 | |
| 10 | Astrateks Astrakhan (R) | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 65 | 51 | +14 | 52 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 11 | Nart Nartkala | 34 | 14 | 5 | 15 | 51 | 43 | +8 | 47 | |
| 12 | Derbent (R) | 34 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 44 | 37 | +7 | 47 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 13 | Kabardey-ZET Nizhny Cherek (R) | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 50 | 52 | −2 | 45 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 14 | Kommunalnik-Druzhba-d Maykop (R) | 34 | 11 | 3 | 20 | 49 | 53 | −4 | 36 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 15 | Spartak-d Nalchik | 34 | 7 | 5 | 22 | 37 | 87 | −50 | 26 | |
| 16 | Beshtau Lermontov | 34 | 7 | 5 | 22 | 33 | 94 | −61 | 26 | |
| 17 | Uralan-d Elista (R) | 34 | 7 | 2 | 25 | 25 | 97 | −72 | 23 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 18 | Gofrokarton Digora (R) | 34 | 6 | 2 | 26 | 33 | 86 | −53 | 20 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
Notes.
* FC Uralan-d Elista were excluded from the league after playing 18 games and gaining 23 points. Opponents were awarded a win in the remaining games. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
* FC Gofrokarton Digora were excluded from the league after playing 29 games and gaining 20 points. Opponents were awarded a win in the remaining games. They played their first professional season. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
* FC Gekris Anapa renamed to FC Spartak.
* FC Dynamo Makhachkala renamed to FC Dynamo-Imamat.
* FC Kuban-d Krasnodar and PFC Spartak-d Nalchik played their first professional season.
* FC Anzhi-2 Makhachkala moved to Kaspiysk.
* FC Iriston Mozdok renamed to FC Mozdok.
* FC Astrateks Astrakhan and FC Derbent did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
* FC Spartak-2 Nartkala renamed to FC Nart.
* FC Kabardey-ZET Nizhny Cherek promoted from the Amateur Football League. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
* FC Druzhba-d Maykop renamed to FC Kommunalnik-Druzhba-d Maykop. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.

### Top goalscorers
#### 23 goals

* Gennady Korkin (FC Spartak Anapa)

#### 21 goals

* Aleksandr Kamentsev (FC Venets Gulkevichi)

#### 20 goals

* Narvik Sirkhayev (FC Dynamo-Imamat Makhachkala)

#### 19 goals

* Sultan Chochuyev (FC Kabardey-ZET Nizhny Cherek)
* Timur Zakirov (FC Spartak Anapa)

#### 17 goals

* Andranik Babayan (FC Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody)
* Aliyar Ismailov (FC Anzhi-2 Kaspiysk)

#### 16 goals

* Eduard Khachaturyan (FC Mozdok)
* Yuri Takliyev (FC Nart Cherkessk)

#### 15 goals

* Andrei Podgurskiy (FC Spartak Anapa)

## Zone 2
### Overview

| Team | Head coach |
| FC Salyut-YuKOS Belgorod | Aleksandr Kryukov |
| FC Dynamo-Zhemchuzhina-2 Sochi | Vladimir Aleynikov |
| FC Avangard-Kolos Taganrog | Boris Sinitsyn |
| FC Spartak-Bratskiy Yuzhny | Sergei Antonkin |
| FC Kuban Slavyansk-na-Kubani | Nikolai Smirnov |
| FC Zvezda Gorodishche | Sergei Mukovnin |
| FC Lokomotiv Yelets | Yuri Raznov |
| FC Shakhtyor Shakhty | Aleksandr Vyazov |
| FC Niva Slavyansk-na-Kubani | Oleg Ivanov |
| FC Izumrud Timashyovsk | Vyacheslav Ledovskikh |
| FC Metallurg Krasny Sulin | Viktor Shchirov |
| FC Zhemchuzhina-d Sochi | |
| FC Dynamo Mikhaylovka | Sergei Andreyev |
| FC Rotor-d Volgograd | |
| FC APK Morozovsk | |
| FC Chernomorets-d Novorossiysk | |
| FC Rostselmash-d Rostov-on-Don | |
| FC Istochnik Rostov-on-Don | Ivan Lyakh |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Salyut-YuKOS Belgorod (A) | 32 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 73 | 22 | +51 | 77 | Promotion to Second League |
| 2 | Dynamo-Zhemchuzhina-2 Sochi (A) | 32 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 90 | 42 | +48 | 72 | Promotion to Second League |
| 3 | Avangard-Kolos Taganrog (R) | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 53 | 29 | +24 | 60 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 4 | Spartak-Bratskiy Yuzhny | 32 | 17 | 5 | 10 | 55 | 37 | +18 | 56 | |
| 5 | Kuban Slavyansk-na-Kubani | 32 | 17 | 5 | 10 | 56 | 44 | +12 | 56 | |
| 6 | Zvezda Gorodishche (R) | 32 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 56 | 35 | +21 | 55 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 7 | Lokomotiv Yelets | 32 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 68 | 36 | +32 | 53 | |
| 8 | Shakhtyor Shakhty | 32 | 15 | 6 | 11 | 41 | 31 | +10 | 51 | |
| 9 | Niva Slavyansk-na-Kubani | 32 | 15 | 4 | 13 | 53 | 43 | +10 | 49 | |
| 10 | Izumrud Timashyovsk (R) | 32 | 14 | 3 | 15 | 62 | 57 | +5 | 45 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 11 | Metallurg Krasny Sulin | 32 | 12 | 6 | 14 | 46 | 45 | +1 | 42 | |
| 12 | Zhemchuzhina-d Sochi | 32 | 11 | 4 | 17 | 55 | 64 | −9 | 37 | |
| 13 | Dynamo Mikhaylovka | 32 | 11 | 3 | 18 | 41 | 57 | −16 | 36 | |
| 14 | Rotor-d Volgograd | 32 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 37 | 71 | −34 | 28 | |
| 15 | APK Morozovsk (R) | 32 | 7 | 1 | 24 | 32 | 86 | −54 | 22 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 16 | Chernomorets-d Novorossiysk (R) | 32 | 6 | 3 | 23 | 31 | 94 | −63 | 21 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 17 | Rostselmash-d Rostov-on-Don | 32 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 30 | 86 | −56 | 15 | |
Notes.
* FC Istochnik Rostov-on-Don were excluded from the league after playing 14 games and gaining 30 points. All their results were discarded. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
* FC Salyut-YuKOS Belgorod and FC Lokomotiv Yelets awarded 1 home win each.
* FC Salyut Belgorod renamed to FC Salyut-YuKOS.
* FC Dynamo-Zhemchuzhina-2 Sochi played their first professional season.
* FC Avangard-Kolos Taganrog and FC Chernomorets-d Novorossiysk played their first professional season. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
* FC Zvezda Gorodishche did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
* FC Izumrud Timashyovsk promoted from the Amateur Football League.
* FC Rostselmash-d Rostov-on-Don did not play professionally in 1995.

### Top goalscorers
#### 32 goals

* Stanislav Dubrovin (FC Dynamo-Zhemchuzhina-2 Sochi)

#### 20 goals

* Aleksandr Bocharnikov (FC Kuban Slavyansk-na-Kubani)
* Igor Stasyuk (FC Izumrud Timashyovsk)

#### 15 goals

* Oleg Akulov (FC Zhemchuzhina-d Sochi)

#### 14 goals

* Yevgeni Kuzka (FC Lokomotiv Yelets)

#### 13 goals

* Sergei Borodin (FC Zvezda Gorodishche)
* Vladimir Grishchenko (FC Niva Slavyansk-na-Kubani / FC Chernomorets-d Novorossiysk)
* Manuk Kakosyan (FC Dynamo-Zhemchuzhina-2 Sochi)
* Sergei Sedov (FC Avangard-Kolos Taganrog)

#### 12 goals

* Andrei Fomichyov (FC Salyut-YuKOS Belgorod)
* Tatul Mkhitaryan (FC Dynamo Mikhaylovka)
* Andrei Pakhtusov (FC Niva Slavyansk-na-Kubani)
* Aleksandr Shtyn (FC Zhemchuzhina-d Sochi)
* Yuri Veretin (FC Lokomotiv Yelets)

## Zone 3
### Overview

| Team | Head coach |
| FC Dynamo-d Moscow | |
| FC Mosenergo Moscow | Valentin Sysoyev |
| FC Avtomobilist Noginsk | Vladimir Bodrov |
| FC Spartak-d Moscow | |
| FC Torpedo-Luzhniki-d Moscow | |
| FC Roda Moscow | Vladimir Opochinskiy |
| FC Avangard-Kortek Kolomna | Viktor Korneyev |
| FC Fabus Bronnitsy | Vladimir Sautin |
| FC Mashinostroitel Sergiyev Posad | Andrei Leksakov |
| PFC CSKA-d Moscow | |
| FC Torgmash Lyubertsy | Anatoli Leshchenkov |
| FC Monolit Moscow | Yuri Vereykin |
| FC Titan Reutov | Valeri Vdovin |
| FC Krasnogvardeyets Moscow | Aleksandr Rakov |
| FC Dynamo-2 Moscow | |
| FC Oka Kolomna | Aleksandr Borisenkov |
| FC Obninsk | Yuri Mosolev |
| FC Chertanovo Moscow | Mikhail Karatayev |
| FC Smena Moscow | Vladimir Yevseyev |
| FC Lokomotiv-d Moscow | |
| FC TRASKO Moscow | Aleksandr Gusev |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Dynamo-d Moscow | 38 | 28 | 6 | 4 | 87 | 27 | +60 | 90 | |
| 2 | Mosenergo Moscow (A) | 38 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 84 | 21 | +63 | 87 | Promotion to Second League |
| 3 | Avtomobilist Noginsk (A) | 38 | 26 | 7 | 5 | 84 | 30 | +54 | 85 | Promotion to Second League |
| 4 | Spartak-d Moscow | 38 | 26 | 7 | 5 | 91 | 33 | +58 | 85 | |
| 5 | Torpedo-Luzhniki-d Moscow | 38 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 70 | 37 | +33 | 72 | |
| 6 | Roda Moscow | 38 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 79 | 52 | +27 | 69 | |
| 7 | Avangard-Kortek Kolomna | 38 | 18 | 4 | 16 | 49 | 47 | +2 | 58 | |
| 8 | Fabus Bronnitsy | 38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 51 | 59 | −8 | 55 | |
| 9 | Mashinostroitel Sergiyev Posad | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 53 | 63 | −10 | 53 | |
| 10 | CSKA-d Moscow | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 52 | 54 | −2 | 47 | |
| 11 | Torgmash Lyubertsy | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 42 | 56 | −14 | 46 | |
| 12 | Monolit Moscow | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 39 | 44 | −5 | 46 | |
| 13 | Titan Reutov | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 44 | 59 | −15 | 44 | |
| 14 | Krasnogvardeyets Moscow | 38 | 11 | 9 | 18 | 43 | 53 | −10 | 42 | |
| 15 | Dynamo-2 Moscow | 38 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 40 | 58 | −18 | 38 | |
| 16 | Oka Kolomna (R) | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 33 | 73 | −40 | 36 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 17 | Obninsk (R) | 38 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 34 | 86 | −52 | 29 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 18 | Chertanovo Moscow | 38 | 6 | 9 | 23 | 23 | 67 | −44 | 27 | |
| 19 | Smena Moscow (R) | 38 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 27 | 69 | −42 | 26 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 20 | Lokomotiv-d Moscow | 38 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 32 | 69 | −37 | 23 | |
Notes.
* FC TRASKO Moscow were excluded from the league after playing 18 games and gaining 7 points. All their results were discarded.
* FC Mashinostroitel Sergiyev Posad awarded 1 home win.
* FC Dynamo-d Moscow was not promoted as reserve teams were not eligible for promotion.
* FC Torpedo-d Moscow renamed to FC Torpedo-Luzhniki-d.
* FC Roda Moscow promoted from the Amateur Football League.
* FC Obninsk did not play professionally in 1995 and did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.

### Top goalscorers
#### 25 goals

* Sergei Artyomov (FC Dynamo-d Moscow)
* Sergei Bespalykh (FC Avangard-Kortek Kolomna)

#### 19 goals

* Igor Reutov (FC Avtomobilist Noginsk)

#### 18 goals

* Anatoli Balaluyev (FC Avtomobilist Noginsk)

#### 17 goals

* Aleksandr Samorodov (FC Mosenergo Moscow)

#### 16 goals

* Nikolai Klikin (FC Dynamo-2 Moscow)

#### 15 goals

* Aleksandr Kuptsov (FC Fabus Bronnitsy)

#### 14 goals

* Sergei Burtsev (FC Torgmash Lyubertsy)
* Andrei Dyomkin (FC Dynamo-d Moscow)
* Konstantin Kaynov (FC Fabus Bronnitsy)

## Zone 4
### Overview

| Team | Head coach |
| FC Orekhovo Orekhovo-Zuyevo | Leonid Ostroushko |
| FC Volga Tver | Yuri Zubkov |
| FC Oryol | Vladimir Brykin |
| FC Torpedo Vladimir | Nikolai Pavelyev |
| FC Dynamo Bryansk | Viktor Zimin |
| FC Mashinostroitel Pskov | Sergei Markelov |
| FC Neftyanik Yaroslavl | Valentin Volkov |
| FC Zenit-d St. Petersburg | |
| FC Luch Tula | Aleksandr Chimbiryov |
| FC Lokomotiv-d St. Petersburg | |
| FC Spartak Bryansk | Aleksandr Sekselev |
| FC Kristall Dyatkovo | Nikolai Shipka |
| FC Bulat Cherepovets | Aleksandr Sokolov |
| FC Karelia-Erzi Petrozavodsk | Aleksei Strepetov |
| FC Spartak Kostroma | Valeri Volchanovskiy |
| FC Volochanin Vyshny Volochyok | Nikolai Yakovlev |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Orekhovo Orekhovo-Zuyevo (A) | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 58 | 25 | +33 | 63 | Promotion to Second League |
| 2 | Volga Tver (A) | 30 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 42 | 21 | +21 | 63 | Promotion to Second League |
| 3 | Oryol (A) | 30 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 48 | 15 | +33 | 62 | Promotion to Second League |
| 4 | Torpedo Vladimir | 30 | 17 | 4 | 9 | 47 | 35 | +12 | 55 | |
| 5 | Dynamo Bryansk | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 52 | 27 | +25 | 52 | |
| 6 | Mashinostroitel Pskov | 30 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 38 | 32 | +6 | 48 | |
| 7 | Neftyanik Yaroslavl | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 44 | 29 | +15 | 47 | |
| 8 | Zenit-d St. Petersburg | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 29 | 28 | +1 | 40 | |
| 9 | Luch Tula | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 40 | 29 | +11 | 38 | |
| 10 | Lokomotiv-d St. Petersburg | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 32 | 44 | −12 | 37 | |
| 11 | Spartak Bryansk | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 43 | 52 | −9 | 31 | |
| 12 | Kristall Dyatkovo (R) | 30 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 23 | 44 | −21 | 27 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 13 | Bulat Cherepovets (R) | 30 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 40 | −18 | 26 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 14 | Karelia-Erzi Petrozavodsk (R) | 30 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 24 | 49 | −25 | 24 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 15 | Spartak Kostroma | 30 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 20 | 52 | −32 | 23 | |
| 16 | Volochanin Vyshny Volochyok | 30 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 19 | 59 | −40 | 22 | |
Notes.
* FC Karelia-Erzi Petrozavodsk were excluded from the league after playing 24 games and gaining 24 points. Opponents were awarded a win in the remaining games. They did not play professionally in 1995 and did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997
* FC Trion-Volga Tver renamed to FC Volga.
* FC Lokomotiv-d St. Petersburg played their first professional season.
* FC Spartak Bryansk promoted from the Amateur Football League.
* FC Kristall Dyatkovo and FC Bulat Cherepovets did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.

### Top goalscorers
#### 18 goals

* Vladislav Khakhalev (FC Torpedo Vladimir)

#### 15 goals

* Ruslan Usikov (FC Dynamo Bryansk)

#### 14 goals

* Igor Aksyonov (FC Neftyanik Yaroslavl)
* Valeri Korneyev (FC Spartak Bryansk)

#### 13 goals

* Sergey Ulezlo (FC Volga Tver)

#### 11 goals

* Aleksei Barikov (FC Oryol)
* Pavel Sukhov (FC Orekhovo Orekhovo-Zuyevo)

#### 10 goals

* Igor Varakin (FC Orekhovo Orekhovo-Zuyevo)

#### 9 goals

* Stanislav Borisov (FC Oryol)

#### 8 goals

* Yevgeni Leonov (FC Karelia-Erzi Petrozavodsk)
* Andrei Syomin (FC Oryol)
* Konstantin Taptov (FC Spartak Bryansk)

## Zone 5
### Overview

| Team | Head coach |
| FC Spartak Tambov | Vladimir Kovylin |
| FC Volga Ulyanovsk | Sergei Sedyshev |
| FC Salyut Saratov | Vladimir Khoroltsev |
| FC Energetik Uren | Oleg Yevtushenko |
| FC Kristall Sergach | Viktor Pavlyukov |
| FC Metallurg Vyksa | Mikhail Beketov |
| FC Biokhimik-Mordovia Saransk | Igor Shinkarenko |
| FC Stroitel Morshansk | Vyacheslav Vlasov |
| FC Iskra Engels | Yevgeni Kostyryachenko |
| FC Progress Zelenodolsk | Aleksandr Klobukov |
| FC Khimik Dzerzhinsk | Mikhail Senyurin |
| FC Volga Balakovo | Aleksandr Krokhin |
| FC Neftyanik Pokhvistnevo | Anatoli Valkov |
| FC Druzhba Yoshkar-Ola | Valeri Bogdanov |
| FC Kraneks Ivanovo | Yuri Krivolapov |
| FC Lokomotiv-d Nizhny Novgorod | |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Spartak Tambov (A) | 30 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 74 | 17 | +57 | 68 | Promotion to Second League |
| 2 | Volga Ulyanovsk (A) | 30 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 63 | 14 | +49 | 67 | Promotion to Second League |
| 3 | Salyut Saratov | 30 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 45 | 25 | +20 | 57 | |
| 4 | Energetik Uren | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 41 | 32 | +9 | 52 | |
| 5 | Kristall Sergach (R) | 30 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 50 | 32 | +18 | 47 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 6 | Metallurg Vyksa | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 36 | 31 | +5 | 45 | |
| 7 | Biokhimik-Mordovia Saransk | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 40 | 32 | +8 | 43 | |
| 8 | Stroitel Morshansk | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 41 | |
| 9 | Iskra Engels | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 44 | 47 | −3 | 39 | |
| 10 | Progress Zelenodolsk | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 42 | 44 | −2 | 38 | |
| 11 | Khimik Dzerzhinsk | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 24 | 31 | −7 | 38 | |
| 12 | Volga Balakovo | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 31 | 49 | −18 | 36 | |
| 13 | Neftyanik Pokhvistnevo | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 36 | 48 | −12 | 33 | |
| 14 | Druzhba Yoshkar-Ola | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 28 | 48 | −20 | 30 | |
| 15 | Kraneks Ivanovo (R) | 30 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 21 | 75 | −54 | 14 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 16 | Lokomotiv-d Nizhny Novgorod | 30 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 15 | 65 | −50 | 11 | |
Notes.
* FC Energetik Uren and FC Lokomotiv-d Nizhny Novgorod played their first professional season.
* FC Biokhimik-Mordovia Saransk promoted from the Amateur Football League where it played in 1995 as FC Biokhimik Saransk.
* FC Stroitel Morshansk and FC Iskra Engels promoted from the Amateur Football League.
* FC Kraneks Ivanovo did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.

### Top goalscorers
#### 25 goals

* Aleksandr Khalzov (FC Spartak Tambov)

#### 19 goals

* Sergei Pervushin (FC Spartak Tambov)

#### 15 goals

* Vladimir Nosov (FC Kristall Sergach)

#### 14 goals

* Dmitri Borisko (FC Volga Ulyanovsk)
* Andrei Eskov (FC Iskra Engels)

#### 12 goals

* Boris Goncharov (FC Spartak Tambov)
* Vladimir Kopylov (FC Druzhba Yoshkar-Ola)

#### 11 goals

* Aleksandr Fyodorov (FC Progress Zelenodolsk)

#### 10 goals

* Eduard Bazarov (FC Volga Balakovo)
* Sergei Glazunov (FC Salyut Saratov)
* Yuri Plyaskevich (FC Stroitel Morshansk)
* Vladimir Rokunov (FC Biokhimik-Mordovia Saransk)

## Zone 6
### Overview

| Team | Head coach |
| FC Sodovik Sterlitamak | Sergei Maksimov |
| FC Uralets Nizhny Tagil | Anatoli Garenskikh |
| FC Metiznik Magnitogorsk | Aleksandr Kukushkin |
| FC Dynamo Perm | Anatoli Timofeyev |
| FC Gazovik Orenburg | Viktor Dyomkin |
| FC Neftyanik Bugulma | German Bobek |
| FC Trubnik Kamensk-Uralsky | Leonid Mosolov |
| FC Elektron Vyatskiye Polyany | Yuri Osin |
| FC Dynamo-Gazovik-d Tyumen | |
| FC Gornyak Kushva | Viktor Konshin |
| FC Gornyak Kachkanar | Viktor Shlyayev |
| FC Uralmash-d Yekaterinburg | |
| FC KAMAZ-Chally-d Naberezhnye Chelny | |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Sodovik Sterlitamak (A) | 24 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 49 | 16 | +33 | 55 | Promotion to Second League |
| 2 | Uralets Nizhny Tagil | 24 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 51 | 17 | +34 | 54 | |
| 3 | Metiznik Magnitogorsk | 24 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 54 | 23 | +31 | 51 | |
| 4 | Dynamo Perm | 24 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 56 | 16 | +40 | 51 | |
| 5 | Gazovik Orenburg | 24 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 32 | 29 | +3 | 38 | |
| 6 | Neftyanik Bugulma | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 38 | 27 | +11 | 34 | |
| 7 | Trubnik Kamensk-Uralsky | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 33 | 39 | −6 | 34 | |
| 8 | Elektron Vyatskiye Polyany | 24 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 28 | 30 | −2 | 31 | |
| 9 | Dynamo-Gazovik-d Tyumen (R) | 24 | 8 | 3 | 13 | 24 | 46 | −22 | 27 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 10 | Gornyak Kushva (R) | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 19 | 37 | −18 | 25 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 11 | Gornyak Kachkanar | 24 | 7 | 1 | 16 | 23 | 48 | −25 | 22 | |
| 12 | Uralmash-d Yekaterinburg (R) | 24 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 27 | 58 | −31 | 15 | Relegation to Amateur Football League |
| 13 | KAMAZ-Chally-d Naberezhnye Chelny | 24 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 18 | 66 | −48 | 8 | |
Notes.
* FC Gornyak-Vanadiy Kachkanar renamed to FC Gornyak. Gornyak was excluded from the league after playing 12 games and gaining 22 points. Opponents were awarded a win in the remaining games.
* FC Dynamo Perm awarded 1 home win.
* FC Planeta Bugulma renamed to FC Neftyanik.
* FC Dynamo-Gazovik-d Tyumen, FC Gornyak Kushva and FC Uralmash-d Yekaterinburg did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.

### Top goalscorers
#### 13 goals

* Konstantin Ilyinykh (FC Dynamo Perm)

#### 12 goals

* Aleksei Alekseyev (FC Uralets Nizhny Tagil)
* Yuri Petrov (FC Dynamo Perm)

#### 11 goals

* Sergei Balandin (FC Metiznik Magnitogorsk)

#### 9 goals

* Sergei Afanasyev (FC Metiznik Magnitogorsk)
* Igor Degtyaryov (FC Gazovik Orenburg)
* Albert Gubaydulin (FC Sodovik Sterlitamak)
* Dmitri Zakharov (FC Gornyak Kachkanar)

#### 8 goals

* Vyacheslav Khovanskiy (FC Trubnik Kamensk-Uralsky)
* Yuri Panov (FC Sodovik Sterlitamak)
* Andrei Sviridov (FC Metiznik Magnitogorsk)
* Yuri Vetlugayev (FC Uralets Nizhny Tagil)