More than 100 varieties and hybrids of winter rye evaluated on the traits of frost resistance and winter hardiness. On the basis of the developed method for diagnosing genetic potential of winter crops frost hardiness. High levels of hardiness showed the varieties and hybrids of winter rye STOIR, Pam’yat’ Hudoerko, Vyatka 2, Dymka, Saratovskaya 5, Bezenchukskaya 87, Veronika and the hybrids Pervenets, Yupiter with a total estimate of hardiness 9 points. High level of resistance (8 points) shown the varieties Zhivotvornyi kolos, Verkhnyatske yuvileyne, Kharkivske 98, Khast, Irina, the hybrids Yurievets, Slobozhanets. The trait collection of winter rye for winter hardiness which includes 57 varieties of the four countries. It is recommended to involve the varieties and hybrids of winter rye with high levels of winter hardiness to the cultivation in agricultural formations of all ownership forms and expand the area under this crop, whiat will provide a guaranteed wintering even in bad years and will contribute to the stabilization of the grain balance and food security in our country.