Ukrainian series come in very different forms, from adaptations of classics and historical sagas to youth stories, comedies and war drama. We picked ten series that came out between 2016 and 2024 on the channels STB, 1+1, 2+2, Novyi Kanal, TET and Ukraine TV and on the 1+1 video platform. Each has a page on Ukrainian Wikipedia. Each entry gives the years, the channel or platform, the number of episodes and a reason to watch, without spoilers. This is not a ranking: we do not invent our own ratings or viewing figures. If you want a film, see Ukrainian films worth watching. The data was checked against Wikipedia on October 19, 2026.
To Catch the Kaidash
Official trailer in Ukrainian · “To Catch the Kaidash” (2020)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Телеканал СТБ YouTube channel
To Catch the Kaidash is a modern adaptation of Ivan Nechuy-Levytsky’s novella Kaidash’s Family, created for STB by the company ProKino. The screenwriter and executive producer is Nataliia Vorozhbyt. The script moves the events from the 1860s to 2005–2014: the main line is the eternal conflict of generations in one family. According to Wikipedia, the genre is drama, tragicomedy and comedy. The series aired on STB from March 2 to 11, 2020. Why watch: a classic story of family feuds in a modern setting.
There will be people
Official trailer in Ukrainian · “There will be people” (2020)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the FILM.UA Group YouTube channel
There will be people is a historical drama epic based on Anatolii Dimarov’s novel, made by the studio Film.UA with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine; the director is Arkadii Nepytaliuk. Through the lives of ordinary people, the series shows the Ukrainian village of the first half of the 20th century: from the First World War to the arrival of Soviet power. Each episode is devoted to a separate character, and the episodes aired on STB from September 14 to 19, 2020. Why watch: a family saga about a village in the whirlwind of great history, without a long season.
Century of Jacob
Official trailer in Ukrainian · “Century of Jacob” (2016)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Телеканал 1+1 YouTube channel
Century of Jacob is a historical miniseries of four episodes, created by the TV channel 1+1 based on the Coronation of the Word prize-winning novel of the same name by Volodymyr Lys. The director is Bata Nedić and the screenwriter is Andrii Kokotiukha; Jacob is played by Roman Lutskyi (young) and Stanislav Boklan (old). The series tells of the long life of a Volhynian peasant that included love, war and loss. The main language is Ukrainian; the episodes run about 50 minutes. Why watch: the history of a century through the fate of one person: a short format for four evenings.
Early Swallows
Official trailer in Ukrainian · “Early Swallows” (2019)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Новий канал YouTube channel
Early Swallows is a youth drama anthology series: each season is a separate story with new characters and locations, while the main actors stay the same. The genre on Wikipedia is thriller-detective. The first season aired on Novyi Kanal on November 19, 2019, and the second on December 14, 2020; the episodes run 45 minutes. At the end of each episode, the hotline number of the public organization La Strada-Ukraine was shown: according to Wikipedia, its operators began to receive more than 600 inquiries a day from teenagers and parents. Why watch: a youth story that raises difficult topics of teenage life.
The Brave Squad
Official trailer in Ukrainian · “The Brave Squad” (2020)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the FILM.UA Group YouTube channel
The Brave Squad is a detective drama by the studio Film.UA about a special police unit that handles cases of domestic violence. Four heroines, the head of the unit, a forensic expert, an IT specialist and a psychologist, help women, children and men who suffer oppression and humiliation from those close to them. The first season of 18 episodes came out on the channel Ukraine TV on April 6, 2020, and the second, of 22 episodes, on November 2, 2020. Why watch: a crime story about a serious social problem.
Velyki Vuiky
Official trailer in Ukrainian · “Velyki Vuiky” (2019)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Телеканал 1+1 YouTube channel
Velyki Vuiky is a comedy series, a spin-off of Ostannii Moskal. A delegation from the Hutsul village of Velyki Vuiky goes to Kyiv to demand the funds allocated for building a road to the village: the action unfolds on Andriivskyi Descent, Khreshchatyk, Independence Square and near the railway station. The directors are Mitia Shmurak and Dmytro Manifest, and the cast includes Yurii Horbunov, Volodymyr Horianskyi and Nazar Zadniprovskyi. The first season of 16 episodes came out on 1+1 on October 14, 2019, and the second on November 30, 2020. Why watch: a light comedy about villagers in the big city.
Okupovani
Official trailer in Ukrainian · “Okupovani” (2023)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Телеканал 2+2 YouTube channel
Okupovani is a four-episode war drama based on real stories of Ukrainians’ resistance in the temporarily occupied territories during the full-scale invasion by Russian troops. Producer Olesia Pazenko said the idea came from the story of a presenter who ended up with his family in occupied Ivankiv, and screenwriter Andrii Kokotiukha worked with testimonies and real videos. The episodes run 45 minutes each, and the premiere was on December 8, 2023, on the channel 2+2. Why watch: a series about everyday resistance, made without pathos and without a caricatured enemy.
Zozuli
Official trailer in Ukrainian · “Zozuli” (2024)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Телеканал ТЕТ YouTube channel
Zozuli is a Ukrainian tragicomedy series. The full-scale invasion forces three sisters who have not spoken for years to live together in their late mother’s house in the village of Borshchi: a designer from the capital, a teacher and a boxing coach. The director is Myroslav Latyk, and the series was made on commission from the state enterprise Multimedia Platform for International Broadcasting of Ukraine. It premiered on TET on March 18, 2024, and the episodes run about 26 minutes. According to Wikipedia, critics faulted the script but praised the actors. Why watch: a light story about sisters and reconciliation: sixteen episodes of about 26 minutes each.
Sex, Insta i ZNO
Official trailer in Ukrainian · “Sex, Insta i ZNO” (2020)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Серіали 1+1 media YouTube channel
Sex, Insta i ZNO is a teen dramedy web series from 1+1 Digital Studios about eleventh graders at an ordinary school in Vinnytsia who are preparing for the external independent evaluation (ZNO) and at the same time make friends, quarrel and fall in love. The director is Antonio Lukich, known for the film My Thoughts Are Silent. All episodes came out on November 25, 2020, on the VOD platform 1+1 video and later on the YouTube channel of the media group 1+1; in August 2023 the series also appeared on Netflix. The episodes run about 20 minutes. Why watch: a school story about choices and growing up, told briefly.
The Slavs
Official trailer in Ukrainian · “The Slavs” (2021)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Телеканал 1+1 YouTube channel
The Slavs is a Ukrainian-Slovak historical series with elements of fantasy, based on ancient Slavic mythology and Ukrainian and Slovak legends. It is set in the 7th century: the young herbalist Draha, an orphan with magical abilities, lives in a village hidden in the Carpathians and finds a wounded stranger in the forest who does not remember who he is. The lead role is played by Polina Nosykhina. The Slovak-language version premiered on March 10, 2021, on TV JOJ, and the Ukrainian-language one (dubbed) on May 3, 2021, on 1+1. Why watch: a fairy-tale story about pre-Christian rituals and mythology in the Carpathians.
How we chose
We took series that have detailed pages on Ukrainian Wikipedia, came out on Ukrainian TV channels or platforms and have an official trailer on the channel of the broadcaster or studio. The Slavs is a Ukrainian-Slovak joint work: according to Wikipedia, it was shown in Ukrainian dubbed. We do not invent ratings, viewing figures or the word “best” as a judgment.
What to choose by mood
| What you want | What to pick |
|---|---|
| Comedy | To Catch the Kaidash, Velyki Vuiky, Zozuli |
| History and classics | There will be people, Century of Jacob, To Catch the Kaidash, The Slavs |
| A teen story | Early Swallows, Sex, Insta i ZNO |
| Crime drama | The Brave Squad, Early Swallows |
| War drama | Okupovani |
| A short season for a few evenings | Century of Jacob (4 episodes), Okupovani (4 episodes), There will be people (12 episodes) |
If you want a film rather than a series, read our selection of Ukrainian films worth watching.
Tip. If you want to start with something short, pick “Century of Jacob” (4 episodes of about 50 minutes each) or “Okupovani” (4 episodes of 45 minutes each): in a few evenings you can reach the end.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch these series legally?
As of October 19, 2026, the official YouTube channels of the TV channels and studios have the following videos: To Catch the Kaidash (all episodes on the STB channel), There will be people (all episodes on the STB channel), Century of Jacob (the first part on the 1+1 channel), Velyki Vuiky (the first episode on the 1+1 channel), Okupovani (the first episode on the 2+2 channel), The Brave Squad (the first episode on the Film.UA Group channel), Early Swallows (all episodes on the Novyi Kanal channel) and Sex, Insta i ZNO (the first episode on the Seriali 1+1 media channel). According to Wikipedia, Sex, Insta i ZNO is also on the 1+1 video platform and has been on Netflix since August 2023. Catalogs change, so check availability on the service you need.
Where to start if you want a short series?
Pick Century of Jacob or Okupovani: four episodes each. For comedy, Velyki Vuiky (16 episodes in the first season) and Zozuli (16 episodes) are a good fit.
Are there series for teenagers here?
Yes: Early Swallows and Sex, Insta i ZNO. In the first, according to Wikipedia, the hotline number of the public organization La Strada-Ukraine was shown at the end of each episode.
Are all the series here in Ukrainian?
Almost all of them. For The Slavs, the original is the Slovak version, and the Ukrainian one was dubbed; for Velyki Vuiky, Wikipedia lists Ukrainian and Russian.
Are there spoilers here?
No. We only describe the starting situation and general information about the series from Wikipedia pages.
Sources
- To Catch the Kaidash (Wikipedia)
- There will be people (Wikipedia)
- Century of Jacob (miniseries) (Wikipedia)
- Early Swallows (Wikipedia)
- Sex, Insta i ZNO (Wikipedia)
Data was checked against Wikipedia on October 19, 2026.
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