The Overarching Strategic Plan outlines a set of measures to develop the Security Service of Ukraine as a special-purpose state entity with law enforcement functions that ensures Ukraine’s state security, strengthening its capabilities in the fields of counterintelligence, information security and cyber protection, combating terrorism and protecting state secrets. The Plan also focuses on improving the system of democratic civilian control over the SSU’s activities; comprehensive digital transformation; enhancing the system of preventive measures to proactively address threats; modernising approaches to personnel management; reinforcing adherence to moral principles and professional and ethical standards; developing an analytical approach and a risk-oriented model of work, etc. (link).

To ensure the effective implementation of these measures within the SSU:

• a departmental plan has been adopted;
• the Strategy for the Development of the Security Service of Ukraine for 2025-2030 has been developed and approved by Order of the SSU Head No. 157 of 21 April 2025.
  Achieving the key goals and objectives of the Strategy involves the introduction of modern approaches to personnel management and professional training, risk-oriented methods of responding to threats, the latest technological solutions in operational and combat activities, enhancing the information and analytical component, improving resource provision, digital transformation and expanding international cooperation.
• the Concept of Personnel Policy in the SSU up to 2028 has been adopted by Order of the SSU Central Office No. 620 of 16 December 2024. It provides for:

1. introduction of transparent human resource management;
2. modernisation of departmental education;
3. ensuring the adaptation of personnel to changes in the security environment;
4. conducting systematic monitoring of personnel effectiveness;
5. creation of conditions for motivation and career planning;
6. compliance with corporate culture, professional ethics and integrity;

• the Rules of Professional Ethics and Integrity for Military Personnel of the Security Service of Ukraine, registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have been adopted and introduced. These rules:

1. introduce ethical standards of conduct for SSU military personnel;
2. define the principles of professional ethics and integrity;
3. improve corporate culture;
4. establish principles for preventing and resolving potential conflicts involving SSU military personnel;
5. strengthen the mechanism for preventing corruption by SSU military personnel;

• the Regulation on Professional Training in the SSU has been approved by the Order of the SSU Central Office No. 255 of 5 June 2024. It sets out the updated organisational principles of professional training in the SSU system;
• the Procedure for Attestation of SSU Military Personnel, registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, has been adopted. The Procedure was developed based on modern personnel management practices, approaches to transparent, impartial and objective assessment of each serviceman, strengthening integrity, transparency and accountability, reducing corruption risks. It envisions the introduction of modern methods of impartial, comprehensive and objective assessment of the performance, professional training, moral and business qualities, professional ethics and integrity of each military serviceman, as well as determination of their suitability for their positions.
  After lifting of martial law, all SSU military personnel will undergo attestation.
• the SSU Anti-Corruption Programme for 2025-2027 has been adopted.

As part of digital transformation, the SSU, in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the security and defence sector entities, has launched a project to create a Unified Information Platform for Access to State Information Registers by Authorised Bodies.

To strengthen its capabilities, advance institutional development, and ensure the gradual transformation of the SSU into a single national counterintelligence agency capable of responding promptly and effectively to external and internal threats, as well as to clearly delineate its functions and powers from those of other components of Ukraine’s security and defence sector, consistent amendments have been introduced to the legislation governing the Service’s activities. In particular, the Parliament of Ukraine has adopted the laws:

• On Amendments to Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On State Secrets’ No. 4236-IX of 12 February 2025. The law designates as state secrets any information concerning the organisation, content, condition, and planning of the protection of Category I and II critical infrastructure facilities, as well as information related to the creation of material and technical reserves for responding to crisis situations and mitigating their consequences at such facilities. This clarification strengthens the Security Service’s responsibility for ensuring the stable operation of critical infrastructure, reduces the risks associated with the uncontrolled circulation of such information, and limits the possibility of its exploitation by the enemy to the detriment of Ukraine’s national security.
• On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Information Protection and Cyber Protection of State Information Resources and Critical Information Infrastructure Facilities No. 4336-IX of 27 March 2025. The law enhances the SSU’s capabilities and clarifies its tasks in ensuring cybersecurity and responding to cyber incidents and cyberattacks, as well as in combating cyberterrorism, cyber sabotage, and cyber espionage. It also designates the SSU Cyber Security Situation Centre as an integral component of the national system for responding to cyber incidents, cyberattacks, and cyber threats.
• On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Improvement of Certain Issues of the SSU Activity and Increasing Its Effectiveness in Connection with Participation in Repelling and Deterring Armed Aggression against Ukraine No. 4542-IX of 16 July 2025. The law increases the personnel of the SSU Special Operations Centre ‘A’ to 10 000, enabling a greater number of service members to participate directly in repelling armed aggression. It also clarifies the SSU’s rights to deploy and use weapons and military equipment during martial law under the procedures established for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and grants the authority to operate all types of unmanned systems.
• On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine to Improve the Procedure for Submitting Draft Regulatory and Legal Acts on Matters within the Competence of the Security Service of Ukraine to the President of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 4633-IX of 9 October 2025. This law clarifies the SSU’s powers to draft and submit regulatory and legal acts to the President of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers on matters within its competence, including in the areas of state secrets protection, counterterrorism, and other relevant domains.

The following draft laws of Ukraine have also been developed and are currently under the Parliament’s consideration:

• 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 No. 11228-1 of 10 May 2024. The draft law introduces an exemption from criminal liability for actions carried out in the course of performing intelligence (special) or counterintelligence (special) assignments; strengthens the legal protection of employees of Ukrainian security and intelligence services and individuals who confidentially assist them; clarifies the purpose, tasks, and legal grounds for counterintelligence activities; and improves the regulation of the fundamental principles governing the organisation and conduct of such activities. It also clearly separates counterintelligence activities from criminal proceedings and specifies the powers of counterintelligence entities – namely, authorised units of the intelligence agencies, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Protection Directorate – to ensure a prompt and effective response to threats to internal security;
• On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On State Secrets’ regarding the Improvement of State Secrets Protection Measures No. 11395 of 4 July 2024. 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 bodies and clearly delineating their respective functions, the SSU will promptly submit proposals to update the Law of Ukraine On the Security Service of Ukraine.