Most Frequently Asked Questions About FISU

Most Frequently Asked Questions About the FISU

Where is the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) of Ukraine located?

The main office of the FIS of Ukraine is located in Nahirna Street in Kyiv. Separate units are located in other districts of the capital and in different regions of Ukraine.

What does the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine do?

The FIS of Ukraine, as an intelligence agency, carries out intelligence activities in the foreign policy, economic, military, scientific and technical, information, environmental, and cyber security spheres.

To perform the main intelligence tasks, the FIS of Ukraine:

1) collects, produces objective analysis and provides objective intelligence to its users in accordance with the procedure established by the Law of Ukraine “On Intelligence”;

2) carries out measures aimed at promoting the realization of the national interests of Ukraine, ensuring security and participation in the formation and implementation of state policy in the spheres defined by law, strengthening the state's defense capability, economic and scientific and technical development;

3) detects and determines the degree of external threats to the national security of Ukraine, including in cyberspace, to the life and health of its citizens and state-owned objects outside Ukraine, organizes and takes special (active) measures against such threats and counters other activities that pose an external threat to the national security of Ukraine;

4) within the limits of the powers defined by the legislation, participates in ensuring the security of foreign diplomatic institutions of Ukraine, including by organizing and carrying out appropriate measures by the authorized persons of these institutions;

5) assists a specially authorized state body in the field of counterintelligence activities in the implementation of counterintelligence support of foreign diplomatic institutions of Ukraine, the safety of employees of these institutions and members of their families in the host country, citizens of Ukraine sent abroad who are aware of information that constitutes a state secret, and protection of state secrets in these institutions;

6) participates in fighting terrorism, countering intelligence and subversive activities against Ukraine, transnational organized crime and other criminal activities that pose an external threat to the national security of Ukraine;

7) participates in measures of state control over international transfers of military and dual-use goods, in particular with the aim of preventing and countering the spread of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, illegal circulation of military and dual-use goods;

8) ensures own safety;

9) cooperates with competent bodies of foreign states, international organizations.

Who is the FIS of Ukraine subordinated to and controlled by?

The general management of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine is carried out by the President of Ukraine. The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine is directly managed by its Head, who is appointed and dismissed by the President of Ukraine.

Presidential control is exercised through the management by the Head of State over the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, the appointment of senior officials, setting of tasks and accountability of the FIS of Ukraine for their fulfillment, as well as through the control over the day-to-day activities of intelligence through the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

Within the limits defined by the Constitution of Ukraine and the laws of Ukraine, parliamentary control is exercised by a committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the subject of which is the issue of ensuring control functions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine over the activities of special purpose bodies with law enforcement functions, special law enforcement bodies and intelligence bodies, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Accounting Chamber.

Control over the use of state budget funds by intelligence agencies or other subjects of the intelligence community, if such use is related to their involvement in the performance of intelligence tasks, as well as their compliance with the legislation during operations with budget funds, is carried out by the Accounting Chamber (state external financial control).

Citizens of Ukraine participate in the implementation of democratic civil control in the manner defined by the Constitution of Ukraine and the laws of Ukraine, taking into account the requirements of Article 46 of the Law of Ukraine “On Intelligence”. Information about the activities of the FISU is published in the mass media and on the official website in the amount determined by the head of the relevant intelligence agency.

Who works in the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine?

Employees of the FIS of Ukraine are military servicemen and civil servants, as well as such military servicemen, civil servants and employees who do not belong to the main personnel of the FIS of Ukraine.

Employees of intelligence agencies who are military servicemen, are subject to the provisions of the legislation on military service, social and legal protection of military personnel in the part of relations not regulated by the Law of Ukraine “On Intelligence”.

Employees of the intelligence agency, who are civil servants, and other employees are subject to the provisions of the legislation on civil service and labor in the part of relations not regulated by the said Law.

Taking into account the tasks assigned to the FIS of Ukraine, in the units of human intelligence, technical intelligence, countering international terrorism, information-analytical, legal, operational-technical, support, educational institutions and research institutions and others, there are professionals in the fields of international law and international relations, jurisprudence work, economics, political science, public administration, journalism, psychology, applied mathematics, cybernetics, computer technologies, system analysis, information protection, etc., with knowledge of one or more foreign languages.

The vast majority of operational employees have two higher educations, in particular in the field of international law and economics, one in three knows two foreign languages. All, without exception, receive the necessary special and language training. A number of employees have academic degrees of candidates and doctors of science, honorary titles.

At the same time, not all employees of the FIS of Ukraine are professional intelligence officers. The FISU employs persons with higher, secondary special or secondary education who ensure the functioning of any department.

Do foreign intelligence officers have any special status?

According to the Law “On Intelligence”, employees of the intelligence agency during the performance of their official duties are under the protection of the state in accordance with legislation. No one has the right to unlawfully interfere with the official activities of employees of the intelligence agency or to obstruct their exercise of the powers specified by legislation. The status of an employee of an intelligence agency can be used exclusively for the achievement of goals related to the performance of the tasks assigned to these agencies and the performance of functions defined by the said Law.

The main personnel of the FIS of Ukraine bears disciplinary responsibility on the grounds and in the manner defined by legislation.

In the case of detention of a staff member of the FIS of Ukraine while performing official duties on suspicion of committing a crime or the selection of a preventive measure in the form of detention, he is kept separately from other persons. An authorized official who summons, detains or arrests a staff member during the performance of official duties is obliged to immediately notify the intelligence body – the FIS of Ukraine. Any kind of detention, arrest and the related search of a person and/or inspection of the belongings of a staff member during the performance of official duties are carried out exclusively in the presence of authorized representatives of the FIS of Ukraine.

The specifics of bringing to responsibility of staff members and persons involved in confidential cooperation, in case they violate the law when performing an intelligence (special) task in accordance with Article 21 of the Law of Ukraine “On Intelligence”, are defined by legislation.

Damage caused by the decisions, actions, or inaction of a staff member and persons involved in confidential cooperation, in connection with the performance of intelligence tasks, shall be compensated by the state in accordance with the procedure established by law, and shall not entail the liability of such a person, except in cases of establishing in his actions of a criminal offense based on the court's indictment against him, which has entered into force.

Which of the employees of FIS of Ukraine can be seconded to work abroad? What is necessary in order to be seconded to work abroad?

The system of selecting candidates for a long-term foreign assignment from among the employees of the FIS of Ukraine is not much different from the practice used by foreign intelligence agencies. Stricter requirements are placed on such employees in view of the specifics of work abroad and the tasks that are set before them during the period of their stay on a long business trip.

When deciding on a referral to a particular country, the level of professional training of the employee is taken into account, first thing. He must have sufficient work experience, in-depth knowledge, a high level of general and country studies training, significant performance results for the position he holds, an impeccable reputation, be capable of making independent decisions and possess other qualities necessary in the conditions of a long stay abroad.

One of the important tools of an intelligence officer is foreign languages, on which largely depends the effectiveness of his work abroad. Therefore, perfect command of at least one foreign language (depending on the country of residence) is mandatory.

Besides, into account are taken the state of health, especially when it comes to a country with adverse climatic conditions, the employee's having a driver's license and relevant skills, etc.

What positions do women hold in the Foreign Intelligence? What kind of education do women need to have to work in the FIS of Ukraine?

Today, women make up about 30 percent of the total number of employees of the FISU. Most of them work in analytical, regime and documentary support, international cooperation, administrative and financial support units, and educational institution. Women also work in the units of human and technical intelligence, as well as abroad.

Among female employees of the Foreign Intelligence Service, the majority are educated philologists, psychologists, lawyers, and economists. A certain number of positions held by women require a perfect command of foreign languages.

The FISU has created all the necessary conditions to ensure that every woman who comes to serve or work in the foreign intelligence, if she wishes and makes appropriate efforts, can fully apply her knowledge, skills, abilities and healthy ambitions, constantly improve and achieve career success, and become successful in many areas of activity.

How is medical support provided to the employees of the FISU?

Employees of the FIS of Ukraine and their family members are subject to medical insurance at the expense of the state budget in accordance with the procedure and on the terms defined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

Employees of the intelligence agency and their family members who are not provided with health insurance are guaranteed free medical care and preferential rehabilitation, sanatorium and resort treatment, and health improvement in health care institutions, sanatorium and resort facilities of the intelligence agencies or in relevant institutions of the central executive authorities under whose jurisdiction such agencies operate.

In case of absence at the place of service (work), residence (temporary stay) of persons – employees of the FISU – of the relevant health care institution, specialists or medical equipment necessary for the provision of medical care, as well as in urgent cases, such assistance is provided by other health care institutions with compensation for its cost at the expense of the state budget in the amounts and in the manner defined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

The FISU has established and operates a Medical Center, which provides therapeutic, surgical, dental, otolaryngological and ophthalmological medical care both on a scheduled basis and immediately.

In order to improve medical care, the FISU and the Military Medical Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine, as well as hospitals of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in Kyiv and some regions, signed an agreement on the provision of medical care to military personnel of the FISU and retired FISU military personnel.