Ukrainurus hypsognathus was named by
Vasilyan et al. (2013) [The new taxon can be diagnosed as a representative of Pancryptobrancha based on the following list of characters (numbers in parentheses refer to the character matrix used herein): trunk ribs unicapitate (32); body size large (33); and parietal and squamosal in contact with one another (34). The following list of characters are unambiguous apomorphies of the new taxon within Pancryptobrancha: symphysis elongated and elliptical (1); triangular ventral space between the dentaries is small (2); sculpture of the dermal ossification on labial side of dentary is rugose to pustular and pointed (3); lingual crista on dentary present (4); ventral keel prolonged (6); pars dentalis subdivided into a dental and subdental lamina (7); mental foramina large, longitudinal flange pronounced (9); labioventral facet of articular broad and sculptured with highly prominent pits and ridges (14); pericondylar facet of occipital broad (19); squamosal robust (20); eminentia dorsalis present (21); paries posterior high (22); paries posterior runs along paries dorsal with an obtuse angle (23); beginning of hemal process oval (27); hemal processes positioned at the posterior portion of vertebral centrum (28); arterial canal in caudal vertebrae broad, with large foramen (29); terminal phalanges slender, with bulbous tips (30); and degree of ossification of the dentary low (bone compactness value >0.8) (31). The new taxon is furthermore diagnosed by one ambiguous apomorphy, which is homoplastic with Andrias scheuchzeri: coronoid process broad (17).]. Its type specimen is NMNHK 22-1711, a mandible (left dentary), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is
Grytsiv (aka Gritsev), which is in a Miocene/Miocene karst limestone in Ukraine.