As part of Ukraine’s European integration efforts, the Security Service of Ukraine is engaged in the official screening of national legislation for compliance with EU law. In preparation for EU membership negotiations, SSU representatives contributed to the development of the Roadmap on the Rule of Law, an important milestone on the path toward EU accession. The Service also submitted its proposals to the draft National Programme for the Adaptation of Ukrainian Legislation to EU Law.

The Roadmap on the Rule of Law, approved by Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 475-r of 14 May 2025, is a comprehensive strategic document that outlines key reforms within the EU accession negotiation framework under Chapter 23 Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and Chapter 24 Justice, Freedom and Security.

Tasks related to the SSU’s transformation are set out in Strategic Outcome 3 of Section 4.3 of the Roadmap. They include a series of measures aimed at further developing the Security Service as a special-purpose state body with law enforcement powers that ensures Ukraine’s state security. These measures focus on strengthening the SSU’s capabilities in:

• counterintelligence;
• information security;
• cyber security;
• counterterrorism;
• protection of state secrets.

A review of the SSU’s statutory powers is currently underway, aimed at refocusing its mandate on ensuring Ukraine’s national security. To incorporate the best practices of partner states, the legislative frameworks governing national security services in EU and NATO countries have been analysed in cooperation with international experts.

This work resulted in the Strategy for the Development of the Security Service of Ukraine for 2025–2030 (approved by Order of the Head of the SSU No. 157 of 21 April 2025). The Strategy outlines a comprehensive vision for modernising the Service and sets key priorities for institutional development. Its implementation is intended to transform the Security Service into a single national counterintelligence body capable of responding effectively and promptly to external and internal threats to state security.

Achieving the Strategy’s goals requires the implementation of modern personnel management and professional training systems, risk-based approaches to threat response, advanced technological solutions for operational and combat activities, enhanced information and analytical capabilities, improved resource provision, digital transformation, and the expansion of international cooperation.

The Strategy is built around four core pillars: people, processes, innovation and partnership.

To ensure effective human resource management and professional development and to introduce modern, impartial and comprehensive assessment tools for personnel, the Security Service of Ukraine has:

• approved the Concept of HR Policy in the Security Service of Ukraine for the period until 2028;
• updated the Rules of Professional Ethics and Integrity for SSU Servicemen;
• developed the Procedure for Attestation of SSU Military Personnel;
• adopted the Anti-Corruption Programme of the SSU for 2025–2027.

Several draft laws developed by the SSU are currently under consideration by the Ukrainian parliament, including:

• Draft Law No. 11228-1 of 10 May 2024, On Amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes of Ukraine and Other Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Regulating Issues of Countering Intelligence and Sabotage Activities of Foreign Intelligence Services, which introduces:

1. exemption from criminal liability for performing intelligence or counterintelligence assignments;
2. strengthened legal protection for employees of Ukrainian security and intelligence services and those who confidentially assist them;
3. clarified goals, tasks and grounds for counterintelligence activities;
4. updated regulation of the principles governing such activities;
5. separation of counterintelligence activities from criminal proceedings;
6. clear delineation of the powers of counterintelligence entities (units of the intelligence agencies, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Protection Directorate) to ensure prompt responses to threats to internal security.

• Draft Law No. 11395 of 4 July 2024, On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On State Secrets’ to Improve the Protection of State Secrets. Given the urgent need to minimise risks to the stable functioning of the state secrets protection system, the Security Service has revised and prepared a new draft Law of Ukraine On Amendments to Certain Laws to Improve Measures for State Secrets Protection. This Draft Law is primarily aimed at strengthening the protection of state secrets in the context of russia’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine; updating the mechanisms for licensing activities involving state secrets; and refining the procedures for granting and revoking citizens’ clearances and access to state secrets.

After the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopts the laws addressing the SSU’s core areas of activity – particularly counterintelligence and state secrets protection – as well as the Law of Ukraine On Law Enforcement Agencies, which serves as a key framework for establishing the system of law enforcement agencies and clearly delineating their functions, the SSU will promptly submit proposals to update the Law of Ukraine On the Security Service of Ukraine.

Measures to expand the SSU’s counterterrorism capabilities are included in Strategic Outcome 1 of Section 4.4 of the Roadmap. These include:

• the Security Service of Ukraine has been designated as the contact point for the exchange of information on terrorists, while the powers of the SSU, the Antiterrorist Centre at the SSU and other counterterrorism entities have been clarified;
• the Antiterrorist Centre at the SSU has been designated as the national coordinator for implementing UN Security Council resolutions on counterterrorism. The ATC at the SSU and counterterrorism entities have been granted powers to obtain and use passenger information (API/PNR) to counter the movement of terrorists;
• Procedure for Forming and Maintaining the List of Terrorist Organisations (Groups) has been adopted and registered with the Ministry of Justice; the list is published on the SSU website and is regularly updated based on court decisions and information of international organisations;
• Antiterrorist Security Rules, which establish procedures and mechanisms for identifying potential terrorist targets and outline mandatory requirements for their protection, have been approved;
• Draft Concept for Combating Terrorism in Ukraine for 2025–2030 has been developed.

To introduce professional counterterrorism training for civilian sector, state authorities and local government bodies, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution No. 92 of 28 January 2025. The Resolution updates the Procedure for Forming State Orders for training and advanced training of employees of state bodies, local government authorities, and military command authorities, thereby creating mechanisms for structured counterterrorism training.

In line with this Resolution, the Security Service has collected information on civil servants, heads of local administrations and their deputies, as well as local government officials who may be involved in counterterrorism operations and require advanced training on antiterrorist security in 2026. The SSU National Academy is currently preparing the corresponding state order.

The Security Service of Ukraine has also developed a Draft Law On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine and Certain Legislative Acts Regarding the Establishment of Criminal Liability for Propaganda of Terrorism, which will help build an effective national system for combating terrorism and radicalisation in line with Directive (EU) 2017/541.