History

History of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine

The history of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine as an organization structure begins on January 24, 1919. On this day, in the staff of the Political Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Directory of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, the first unit of the national foreign intelligence was created – the Department of Foreign Information. The Department conducted intelligence work regarding active enemies of the UPR, the countries – potential adversaries of the Republic and possible allies. This date marked an important milestone, associated with the creation and development of intelligence activities on the lands of Ukraine from the time of the Ukrainian People’s Republic to the present day. Taking into consideration the intelligence officers’ significant contribution to ensuring the protection of Ukraine’s national interests from external threats, the Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 381/2018 established the Day of the Foreign Intelligence of Ukraine, which is celebrated annually on January 24.

After the declaration of Ukraine’s Independence in 1991, in order to inform the top leadership of Ukraine about current issues in the interests of national security, the Main Directorate of Intelligence was established as part of the National Security Service of Ukraine.

In March 2001, the Law of Ukraine “On Intelligence Agencies of Ukraine” was adopted. It defines the aim, main tasks and principles of the work of intelligence agencies, establishes their rights and spheres of activity, the order of interaction between them and other governmental bodies, the principles of relations with foreign secret services, etc.

In February 2004, by the Decree of the President of Ukraine, the Department of Intelligence was established on the basis of the Main Directorate of Intelligence and the Main Directorate of Radio-Electronic Intelligence. Later they became the basis for the formation of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.

In October 14, 2004, the President of Ukraine signed the Decree “On the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine”, under which the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine began to function as a separate intelligence agency. On December 1, 2005, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law “On the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine”.

On September 17, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law of Ukraine “On Intelligence”. Among other things, the Law specified the main tasks and spheres of intelligence activities of each intelligence agency of Ukraine. Also, at the legislative level, an intelligence community was created. Defined were the role and place of the subjects of this community during the fulfillment of tasks of obtaining intelligence information, promoting the realization of the national interests of Ukraine, and countering external threats to the national security of Ukraine.

Today, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine as an intelligence agency of Ukraine is part of the security forces, and as a military formation – part of the defence forces of the security and defence sector of Ukraine and, in accordance with the tasks defined by Law, takes a direct part in repulsing russia’s aggression against Ukraine.