Editing Ukraine (section)

== Politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Ukraine}}

Ukraine is a republic under a [[semi-presidential system]] with separate [[legislative branch|legislative]], [[executive branch|executive]], and [[judicial branch]]es.<ref name="Choudhry 2018 p16.">{{cite book |last=Choudhry |first=Sujit |title=Semi-presidentialism and Inclusive Governance in Ukraine Reflections for Constitutional Reform |publisher=International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance |publication-place=Stockholm |year=2018 |isbn=978-91-7671-154-5 |oclc=1038616889 |page=16 |url=https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/semi-presidentialism-and-inclusive-governance-in-ukraine.pdf}}</ref>

=== Constitution ===
{{main|Constitution of Ukraine }}
[[File:Chart Constitution of Ukraine EN.svg|upright=1.2|thumb|Chart of the political system of Ukraine]]
The Constitution of Ukraine was adopted and ratified at the 5th session of the [[Verkhovna Rada]], the parliament of Ukraine, on 28 June 1996.<ref name="UNIANCD28616"/> The constitution was passed with 315 ayes out of 450 votes possible (300 ayes minimum).<ref name="UNIANCD28616">{{Cite web |date=16 June 2016 |title=Ukraine celebrating 20th anniversary of Constitution |url=https://www.unian.info/society/1389415-ukraine-celebrating-20th-anniversary-of-constitution.html |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=unian.info |language=en}}</ref> All other laws and other normative{{Clarify|date=March 2022}} legal acts of Ukraine must conform to the constitution. The right to amend the constitution through a special legislative procedure is vested exclusively in the parliament. The only body that may interpret the constitution and determine whether legislation conforms to it is the [[Constitutional Court of Ukraine]]. Since 1996, the [[public holiday]] [[Constitution Day (Ukraine)|Constitution Day]] is celebrated on 28 June.<ref>[http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=38117 Yulia Tymoshenko Goes On Trial A Day Before Constitution Day], [[Eurasia Daily Monitor]] (30 July 2011)</ref><ref name="UW29121996">[http://www.ukrweekly.com/old/archive/1996/529606.shtml 1996: the year in review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190426/http://www.ukrweekly.com/old/archive/1996/529606.shtml |date=3 March 2016 }}, [[The Ukrainian Weekly]] (29 December 1996)</ref> On 7 February 2019, the Verkhovna Rada voted to amend the constitution to state Ukraine's strategic objectives as joining the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10437570-ukraine-s-parliament-backs-changes-to-constitution-confirming-ukraine-s-path-toward-eu-nato.html |title=Ukraine's parliament backs changes to Constitution confirming Ukraine's path toward EU, NATO |website=unian.info |date=7 February 2019 |language=en |access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref>

=== Government ===
{{main|Government of Ukraine}}
{{Multiple image|total_width = 280
| image1            = Volodymyr Zelensky Official portrait.jpg
| link1             = Volodymyr Zelenskyy
| caption1          = [[President of Ukraine|President]]<br />[[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]]
| image2            = Денис Шмыгаль (портрет) 2.jpg
| link2             = Denys Shmyhal
| caption2          = [[Prime Minister of Ukraine|Prime Minister]]<br />[[Denys Shmyhal]]
}}

The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and is the formal [[head of state]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/en/publish/article%3fart_id=235995&cat_id=32672 |title=General Articles about Ukraine |access-date=24 December 2007 |website=Government Portal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120232454/http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/en/publish/article%3Fart_id%3D235995%26cat_id%3D32672 |archive-date=20 January 2008}}</ref>
Ukraine's legislative branch includes the 450-seat [[unicameral]] parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://portal.rada.gov.ua/ |title=Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine |access-date=24 December 2007 |website=[[Verkhovna Rada]] of Ukraine Official Web-site |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223190549/http://portal.rada.gov.ua/ |archive-date=23 December 2007}}</ref> The parliament is primarily responsible for the formation of the executive branch and the [[Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine|Cabinet of Ministers]], headed by the [[Prime Minister of Ukraine|prime minister]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Ukraine,_2004 |title=Constitution of Ukraine |access-date=24 December 2007 |website=[[Wikisource]]}}</ref> The president retains the authority to nominate the ministers of foreign affairs and of defence for parliamentary approval, as well as the power to appoint the [[Prosecutor General of Ukraine|prosecutor general]] and the head of the [[Security Service of Ukraine|Security Service]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Черноватий Л. М. |title=Практичний курс англійської мови. 4-й курс.: Підручник для ВНЗ |publisher=Нова Книга |pages=24– |isbn=9789663821757 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8wbcCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA24}}</ref>

Laws, acts of the parliament and the cabinet, presidential decrees, and acts of the [[Verkhovna Rada of Crimea|Crimean parliament]] may be abrogated by the Constitutional Court, should they be found to violate the constitution. Other normative acts are subject to judicial review. The [[Supreme Court of Ukraine|Supreme Court]] is the main body in the system of courts of general jurisdiction.
Local self-government is officially guaranteed. Local councils and city mayors are popularly elected and exercise control over local budgets. The heads of regional and district administrations are appointed by the president in accordance with proposals of the prime minister.<ref name="House2004">{{cite book |author=Freedom House |date=13 September 2004 |title=Nations in Transit 2004: Democratization in East Central Europe and Eurasia |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |pages=639– |isbn=978-1-4617-3141-2 |oclc=828424860 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AsJlnVU4ipoC&pg=PA639}}</ref>

=== Courts and law enforcement ===
{{Main|Judicial system of Ukraine|Law enforcement in Ukraine}}
[[File:Klov Palace. Listed ID 80-382-0462. - 8 Pylypa Orlyka Street, Pechersk Raion, Kiev. - Pechersk 28 09 13 396.jpg|thumb|[[Klov Palace|Klovsky Palace]], seat of the [[Supreme Court of Ukraine]]]]
[[Martial law in Ukraine|Martial law]] was declared when Russia invaded in February 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine's president declared martial law after Russia's attack. But what is it? |website=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/02/24/martial-law-ukraine-russia-attack/6925581001/}}</ref> and continues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine President Submits Bill Extending Martial Law Until Late April |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/ukraines-president-volodymyr-zelenskiy-submits-bill-extending-martial-law-until-late-april-2823166 |access-date=31 March 2022 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-22 |title=Ukrainian Parliament Extends Martial Law For 90 Days |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-martial-law-extended/31862325.html |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |language=en}}</ref> The courts enjoy legal, financial and constitutional freedom guaranteed by Ukrainian law since 2002. Judges are largely well protected from dismissal (except for gross misconduct). Court justices are appointed by presidential decree for an initial period of five years, after which Ukraine's Supreme Council confirms their positions for life. Although there are still problems, the system is considered to have been much improved since Ukraine's independence in 1991. The Supreme Court is regarded as an independent and impartial body, and has on several occasions ruled against the Ukrainian government. The [[World Justice Project]] ranks Ukraine 66 out of 99 countries surveyed in its annual Rule of Law Index.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://data.worldjusticeproject.org/#/index/UKR |title=WJP Rule of Law Index® 2018–2019 |website=data.worldjusticeproject.org |access-date=28 April 2014 |archive-date=29 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429071718/http://data.worldjusticeproject.org/#/index/UKR |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Prosecutor]]s in Ukraine have greater powers than in most European countries, and according to the [[European Commission for Democracy through Law]] "the role and functions of the Prosecutor's Office is not in accordance with [[Council of Europe]] standards".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrne |first=Peter |date=25 March 2010 |title=Prosecutors fail to solve biggest criminal cases |work=[[Kyiv Post]] |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/news/business/bus_focus/detail/62548/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331202047/http://www.kyivpost.com/news/business/bus_focus/detail/62548/ |archive-date=31 March 2010}}</ref> The [[conviction rate]] is over 99%,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Українські суди майже не виносять виправдувальних вироків |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/03/8/6985181/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=[[Ukrainska Pravda]] |language=uk}}</ref> equal to the conviction rate of the Soviet Union, with suspects often being incarcerated for long periods before trial.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Byrne |first=Peter |date=25 March 2010 |title=Jackpot |work=[[Kyiv Post]] |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/62564 |access-date=31 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329145022/http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/62564 |archive-date=29 March 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Будинок уряду України, Київ.JPG|thumb|The [[Government of Ukraine|Cabinet of Ministers]] building]]

In 2010, [[Viktor Yanukovych|President Yanukovych]] formed an expert group to make recommendations on how to "clean up the current mess and adopt a law on court organisation".<ref name=":7" /> One day later, he stated "We can no longer disgrace our country with such a court system."<ref name=":7" /> The criminal judicial system and the prison system of Ukraine remain quite punitive.<ref name="United States Department of State 2021">{{cite web |title=Ukraine |website=United States Department of State |date=4 November 2021 |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/ukraine/ |access-date=31 March 2022}}</ref>

Since 2010 court proceedings can be held in Russian by mutual consent of the parties. Citizens unable to speak Ukrainian or Russian may use their native language or the services of a translator.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Interfax-Ukraine |date=2011-12-15 |title=Constitutional Court rules Russian, other languages can be used in Ukrainian courts – Dec. 15, 2011 |url=https://archive.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/constitutional-court-rules-russian-other-languages-118997.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=[[Kyiv Post]]}}<br />{{Cite web |title=З подачі "Регіонів" Рада дозволила російську у судах |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2009/06/23/4045262/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=[[Ukrainska Pravda]] |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://for-ua.com/ukraine/2010/07/29/113049.html |title=Російська мова стала офіційною в українських судах |website=for-ua.com}}</ref> Previously all court proceedings had to be held in Ukrainian.<ref name="United States Department of State 2021"/>

Law enforcement agencies are controlled by the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine|Ministry of Internal Affairs]]. They consist primarily of the [[National Police of Ukraine|national police force]] and various specialised units and agencies such as the [[State Border Guard Service of Ukraine|State Border Guard]] and the [[Ukrainian Sea Guard|Coast Guard]] services. Law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, faced criticism for their heavy handling of the 2004 Orange Revolution. Many thousands of police officers were stationed throughout the capital, primarily to dissuade protesters from challenging the state's authority but also to provide a quick reaction force in case of need; most officers were armed.<ref name="NYTSBU">{{cite news |last1=Chivers |first1=C. J. |title=How Top Spies in Ukraine Changed the Nation's Path |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/17/world/europe/how-top-spies-in-ukraine-changed-the-nations-path.html |access-date=15 June 2018 |date=17 January 2005}}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===

{{Main|Foreign relations of Ukraine|International membership of Ukraine|Ukraine–European Union relations|Accession of Ukraine to the European Union|Ukraine and the World Bank}}

[[File:Batumi_International_Conference,_on_19_July_2021_03_(cropped).jpg|thumb|[[President of Georgia]] [[Salome Zourabichvili|Salome Zurabishvili]], [[President of Moldova]] [[Maia Sandu]], [[President of Ukraine|Ukrainian President]] [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] and [[President of the European Council|European Council President]] [[Charles Michel]] during the 2021 International Conference in [[Batumi]]. In 2014, the EU signed association agreements with all three countries]]
From 1999 to 2001, Ukraine served as a non-permanent member of the [[UN Security Council]]. Historically, Soviet Ukraine joined the United Nations in 1945 as one of the original members following a Western compromise with the Soviet Union.<ref name="U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, Office of Public Communication, Editorial Division.2000">{{cite book |date=2000 |title=Background Notes, Ukraine |publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]], Bureau of Public Affairs, Office of Public Communication, Editorial Division. |pages=9– |oclc=40350408 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GnEiep4NgnAC&pg=PA9}}</ref> Ukraine has consistently supported peaceful, negotiated settlements to disputes. It has participated in the quadripartite talks on the conflict in Moldova and promoted a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the [[Post-Soviet states|post-Soviet state]] of Georgia. Ukraine also has made contributions to UN [[peacekeeping]] operations since 1992.<ref name="NATO Information Service.">{{cite book |title=NATO Review |publisher=[[University of Wisconsin]] – NATO Information Service. |pages=49– |oclc=1387966 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Al8ux_sHwsYC&pg=PA49}}</ref>

Ukraine considers Euro-Atlantic integration its primary foreign policy objective,<ref name="result of Russia">{{cite web |url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/241388.html |title=Ukraine has no alternative to Euro-Atlantic integration&nbsp;– Ukraine has no alternative to Euro-Atlantic integration – Poroshenko |work=[[Interfax-Ukraine]] |date=23 December 2014}}<br />{{cite web |url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/241359.html |title=Ukraine abolishes its non-aligned status – law |work=[[Interfax-Ukraine]] |date=23 December 2014}}<br />{{cite web |url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/12/23/ukraine-s-complicated-path-to-nato-membership/ |title=Ukraine's complicated path to NATO membership |work=[[Euronews]] |date=23 December 2014}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/24/world/europe/ukraine-parliament-nato-vote.html |title=Ukraine Takes Step Toward Joining NATO |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=23 December 2014}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-ends-nonaligned-status-earning-quick-rebuke-from-russia-1419339226 |title=Ukraine Ends 'Nonaligned' Status, Earning Quick Rebuke From Russia |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=23 December 2014}}</ref> but in practice it has always balanced its relationship with the European Union and the United States with strong ties to Russia. The European Union's [[Partnership and Cooperation Agreement]] (PCA) with Ukraine went into force in 1998. The European Union (EU) has encouraged Ukraine to implement the PCA fully before discussions begin on an association agreement, issued at the EU Summit in December 1999 in [[Helsinki]], recognises Ukraine's long-term aspirations but does not discuss association.<ref name="result of Russia"/>

In 1992, Ukraine joined the then-Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (now the [[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe|Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe]] (OSCE)), and also became a member of the [[North Atlantic Cooperation Council]]. [[Ukraine–NATO relations]] are close and the country has declared interest in eventual membership.<ref name="result of Russia"/>

Ukraine is the most active member of the [[Partnership for Peace]] (PfP). All major political parties in Ukraine support full eventual integration into the European Union.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/116043.html |title=Teixeira: Ukraine's EU integration suspended, association agreement unlikely to be signed |publisher=[[Interfax]] |date=31 August 2012 |access-date=6 September 2012}}</ref> The Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union was signed in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/209475.html |title=EU, Ukraine to sign remaining part of Association Agreement on June 27 – European Council |access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref> Ukraine long had close ties with all its neighbours, but [[Russia–Ukraine relations]] rapidly deteriorated in 2014 due to the annexation of Crimea, energy dependence and payment disputes.[[File:EU DCFTA EFTA.svg|thumb|In January 2016, Ukraine joined {{legend-inline|#46cd3d|the [[Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area]]}} with {{legend-inline|#3d46cd|the EU}}, established by the [[Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement]], opening its path towards [[European integration]]]]The [[Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area]] (DCFTA), which entered into force in January 2016 following the ratification of the [[Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement]], formally integrates Ukraine into the [[European Single Market]] and the [[European Economic Area]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/tradoc_150981.pdf |title=EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area |publisher=European Union |access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://eeas.europa.eu/archives/delegations/ukraine/documents/virtual_library/vademecum_en.pdf |title=The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area |publisher=European Union |access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref> Ukraine receives further support and assistance for its [[Future enlargement of the European Union|EU-accession]] aspirations from the International Visegrád Fund of the [[Visegrád Group]] that consists of [[Central Europe]]an [[Member state of the European Union|EU members]] the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patricolo |first=Claudia |date=29 July 2018 |title=Ukraine looks to revive V4 membership hopes as Slovakia takes over presidency |url=https://emerging-europe.com/news/ukraine-looks-to-revive-v4-membership-hopes-as-slovakia-takes-over-presidency/ |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=Emerging Europe |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2020, in [[Lublin]], Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine created the [[Lublin Triangle]] initiative, which aims to create further cooperation between the three historical countries of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and further Ukraine's integration and accession to the [[EU]] and NATO.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine Inaugurate 'Lublin Triangle' |url=https://jamestown.org/program/lithuania-poland-and-ukraine-inaugurate-lublin-triangle/ |website=Jamestown}}</ref>

In 2021, the [[Association Trio]] was formed by signing a joint memorandum between the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia|Foreign Ministers of Georgia]], [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova|Moldova]] and [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine)|Ukraine]]. The Association Trio is a tripartite format for enhanced cooperation, coordination, and dialogue between the three countries (that have signed the Association Agreement with the EU) with the European Union on issues of common interest related to [[European integration]], enhancing cooperation within the framework of the [[Eastern Partnership]], and committing to the prospect of joining the European Union.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Україна, Грузія та Молдова створили новий формат співпраці для спільного руху в ЄС |url=https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/news/2021/05/17/7123240/ |website=eurointegration.com.ua}}</ref> As of 2021, Ukraine was preparing to formally apply for EU membership in 2024, in order to join the European Union in the 2030s,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=У 2024 році Україна подасть заявку на вступ до ЄС |url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polytics/2629440-u-2024-roci-ukraina-podast-zaavku-na-vstup-do-es.html |website=ukrinform.ua |date=29 January 2019}}</ref> however, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested that the country be admitted to the EU immediately.<ref name="auto1"/>{{Failed verification|date=March 2025}} Candidate status was granted in June 2022.<ref name="BBC News"/> In recent years, Ukraine has dramatically strengthened its ties with the [[United States]].<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":5" />

=== Military ===
{{Main|Armed Forces of Ukraine}}
[[File:UA 25th brigade BMP-1TS 02.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|Ukrainian troops on the move during the [[2022 Ukrainian eastern counteroffensive]]]]
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited a 780,000-man military force on its territory, equipped with the third-largest [[nuclear weapons and Ukraine|nuclear weapons arsenal]] in the world.<ref name="milgov"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Mary Louise |last2=Lonsdorf |first2=Kat |title=Why Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons – and what that means in an invasion by Russia |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1082124528/ukraine-russia-putin-invasion |access-date=9 November 2022 |work=NPR.org |date=21 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In 1992, Ukraine signed the [[Lisbon Protocol]] in which the country agreed to give up all nuclear weapons to Russia for disposal and to join the [[Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]] as a non-nuclear weapon state. By 1996 the country had become free of nuclear weapons.<ref name="milgov">{{cite web |url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=en&part=history&sub=history |title=The history of the Armed Forces of Ukraine |work=Ministry of Defence of Ukraine |access-date=5 July 2008 |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence of Ukraine]]}}</ref>

Ukraine took consistent steps toward reduction of conventional weapons. It signed the [[Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe]], which called for reduction of tanks, artillery, and armoured vehicles (army forces were reduced to 300,000). The country planned to convert the current [[conscript]]-based military into a professional [[volunteer military]].<ref name="wbook06">{{cite web |url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/files/white_book_eng2006.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108143812/http://www.mil.gov.ua/files/white_book_eng2006.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2007 |title=White Book 2006 |access-date=24 December 2007 |publisher=Ministry of Defence of Ukraine}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=old|date=March 2022}} Ukraine's current military consist of 196,600 active personnel and around 900,000 reservists.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forces.net/news/numbers-how-does-ukraines-military-stack-against-russias |title=In numbers: How does Ukraine's military stack up against Russia? |first=Alex |last=Walters |website=Forces Network |date=24 February 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Ukrainian HIMARS in Zaporizhya oblast, early June 2022 (3).jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|American [[M142 HIMARS]] rocket launchers in Ukrainian service, an example of [[List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|foreign military equipment received]] during the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]]]]

Ukraine played an increasing role in peacekeeping operations. In 2014, the Ukrainian frigate ''Hetman Sagaidachniy'' joined the European Union's counter piracy [[Operation Atalanta]] and was part of the EU Naval Force off the coast of [[Somalia]] for two months.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eunavfor.eu/ukrainian-navy-warship-hetman-sagaidachniy-joins-eu-naval-force-counter-piracy-operation-atalanta/ |title=Ukrainian Navy Warship Hetman Sagaidachniy Joins EU Naval Force Counter Piracy Operation Atalanta |publisher=Eunavfor.eu |date=6 January 2014 |access-date=26 January 2014 |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228164241/https://eunavfor.eu/ukrainian-navy-warship-hetman-sagaidachniy-joins-eu-naval-force-counter-piracy-operation-atalanta/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> Ukrainian troops were deployed in [[Kosovo]] as part of the [[Polish-Ukrainian Peace Force Battalion|Ukrainian-Polish Battalion]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=en&part=peacekeeping&sub=kfor_kosovo |title=Multinational Peacekeeping Forces in Kosovo, KFOR |work=Ministry of Defence of Ukraine |access-date=24 December 2007 }}</ref> In 2003–2005, a Ukrainian unit was deployed as part of the [[multinational force in Iraq]] under Polish command.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?part=peacekeeping&lang=en |title=Peacekeeping |work=Ministry of Defence of Ukraine |access-date=2 May 2008 }}</ref> Military units of other states participated in multinational military exercises with Ukrainian forces in Ukraine regularly, including [[U.S. military]] forces.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/67094 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522053812/http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/67094 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 May 2010 |title=Kyiv Post. Independence. Community. Trust – Politics – Parliament approves admission of military units of foreign states to Ukraine for exercises |date=22 May 2010}}</ref>

Following independence, Ukraine declared itself a neutral state.<ref name="gska2.rada.gov.ua" /> The country had a limited military partnership with Russian Federation and other CIS countries and has had a partnership with NATO since 1994. In the 2000s, the government was leaning towards NATO, and deeper cooperation with the alliance was set by the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan signed in 2002. It was later agreed that the question of joining NATO should be answered by a national referendum at some point in the future.<ref name="wbook06" /> Deposed President Viktor Yanukovych considered the then level of co-operation between Ukraine and NATO sufficient, and was against Ukraine joining NATO. During the [[2008 Bucharest summit]], NATO declared that Ukraine would eventually become a member of NATO when it meets the criteria for accession.

As part of modernisation after the beginning of the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]] in 2014, junior officers were allowed to take more initiative and a [[Territorial defence battalions (Ukraine)|territorial defence force]] of volunteers was established.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Liam |title=In 2014, the 'decrepit' Ukrainian army hit the refresh button. Eight years later, it's paying off |url=http://theconversation.com/in-2014-the-decrepit-ukrainian-army-hit-the-refresh-button-eight-years-later-its-paying-off-177881 |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=The Conversation |date=8 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Various defensive weapons including [[Unmanned combat aerial vehicle|drones]] were supplied by many countries, but not fighter jets.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Al Jazeera Staff |title=What's in the new US military aid package to Ukraine? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/17/whats-in-the-new-us-military-aid-package-to-ukraine |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref> During the first few weeks of the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|2022 Russian invasion]] the military found it difficult to defend against shelling, missiles and high level bombing; but light infantry used shoulder-mounted weapons effectively to destroy tanks, armoured vehicles and low-flying aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 March 2022 |title=Is an outright Russian military victory in Ukraine possible? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/17/is-an-outright-russian-military-victory-in-ukraine-possible |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> In August 2023, the U.S. officials estimated that up to 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 100,000 to 120,000 wounded during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |title=Troop Deaths and Injuries in Ukraine War Near 500,000, U.S. Officials Say |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/us/politics/ukraine-russia-war-casualties.html |work=The New York Times |date=18 August 2023}}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Ukraine|Ukrainian historical regions|List of cities in Ukraine}}
{{Further|Political status of Crimea|Russian-occupied territories}}
[[File:Map_of_Ukraine_with_Cities.png|thumb|350px|Ukraine (2021) — major cities and adjacent countries]]
The system of Ukrainian subdivisions reflects the country's status as a [[unitary state]] (as stated in the country's constitution) with unified legal and [[Local government|administrative]] regimes for each unit.

Including [[Sevastopol]] and the [[Autonomous Republic of Crimea]] that were annexed by the Russian Federation in 2014, Ukraine consists of 27 regions: twenty-four [[oblast]]s (provinces), one [[autonomous republic]] ([[Autonomous Republic of Crimea]]), and two cities of special status—[[Kyiv]], the capital, and [[Sevastopol]]. The 24 oblasts and Crimea are subdivided into 136<ref>{{cite news |title=The council reduced the number of districts in Ukraine: 136 instead of 490 |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2020/07/17/7259715/ |work=[[Ukrainska Pravda]] |date=17 July 2020 |language=uk}}</ref> {{lang|uk-Latn|[[raion]]s}} (districts) and city municipalities of regional significance, or second-level administrative units.

[[Populated places in Ukraine]] are split into two categories: urban and rural. Urban populated places are split further into cities and [[urban-type settlement]]s (a Soviet administrative invention), while rural populated places consist of villages and settlements (a generally used term). All cities have a certain degree of self-rule depending on their significance such as national significance (as in the case of Kyiv and Sevastopol), regional significance (within each oblast or autonomous republic) or district significance (all the rest of cities). A city's significance depends on several factors such as its population, socio-economic and historical importance and infrastructure.

{| class="wikitable" style="min-width:75%"
| colspan=2 align=center | {{Oblasts of Ukraine}}
|-
!colspan=2|[[Oblasts of Ukraine|Oblasts]]
|-
| colspan=2 style="vertical-align:top;"|{{colbegin|colwidth=10em}}
* [[Cherkasy Oblast|Cherkasy]]
* [[Chernihiv Oblast|Chernihiv]]
* [[Chernivtsi Oblast|Chernivtsi]]
* [[Dnipropetrovsk Oblast|Dnipropetrovsk]]
* [[Donetsk Oblast|Donetsk]]
* [[Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast|Ivano-Frankivsk]]
* [[Kharkiv Oblast|Kharkiv]]
* [[Kherson Oblast|Kherson]]
* [[Khmelnytskyi Oblast|Khmelnytskyi]]
* [[Kyiv Oblast|Kyiv]]
* [[Kirovohrad Oblast|Kirovohrad]]
* [[Luhansk Oblast|Luhansk]]
* [[Lviv Oblast|Lviv]]
* [[Mykolaiv Oblast|Mykolaiv]]
* [[Odesa Oblast|Odesa]]
* [[Poltava Oblast|Poltava]]
* [[Rivne Oblast|Rivne]]
* [[Sumy Oblast|Sumy]]
* [[Ternopil Oblast|Ternopil]]
* [[Vinnytsia Oblast|Vinnytsia]]
* [[Volyn Oblast|Volyn]]
* [[Zakarpattia Oblast|Zakarpattia]]
* [[Zaporizhzhia Oblast|Zaporizhzhia]]
* [[Zhytomyr Oblast|Zhytomyr]]
{{colend}}
|-
![[Autonomous republic]]
![[Cities with special status]]
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"|
* [[Autonomous Republic of Crimea]]
| style="vertical-align:top;"|
* [[Kyiv|City of Kyiv]]
* [[Sevastopol|City of Sevastopol]]
|}