The striker, who joined the London club in 2006, opted to end his stay at Stamford Bridge after finding opportunities to play increasingly limited.
Shevchenko spent last season on loan with now Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti at AC Milan but returned to Chelsea this summer. He made an appearance as a substitute against Sunderland in their 3-1 win at the Stadium of Light earlier this season.
Speaking to the club's official website, the 32-year-old acknowledged that he struggled to regularly show the form he had shown earlier in his career but always tried his best.
'I think it is a good decision for me to go back to Ukraine, my home country where I started my career and to finish there,' said.
'I always tried my best for Chelsea and it is only my decision to leave because I want to play regularly in games. I thank the club and Roman Abramovich very much, and everybody who has worked at the club and the players, I have many good friends here and a very good relationship with them and Carlo Ancelotti.
'I have big respect for him, he is not like a manager but a friend and he understands my decision, it is best for me.
The best memories are the relationships with the players and the fans because it was three hard years and some games I played okay but many games I was out injured and every time I came onto the pitch I tried my best,' he explained.
'I feel when I played for Chelsea I received big support from the fans. I will remember for all my life this club and I hope I can come to the stadium and say "goodbye" to the fans, I want to send a message to thank them for their support and to enjoy their football and watching their team, I send my best thoughts for the team and hope that Chelsea wins many titles.'
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