President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi puts into effect the decision of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine as of March 25, 2021 "On the Military Security Strategy of Ukraine”. The Head of State signed relevant decree No.121/2021 yesterday.

Such strategic document has been prepared in Ukraine for the first time. The strategy is a document of defence planning, the purpose of which is to ensure the implementation of state policy in the defence area and to identify ways to implement the priorities of state policy in the military area, defence and military construction areas.

The document provides for the introduction of a comprehensive approach to the defence of Ukraine in the face of a military threat to national security associated with the use of hybrid methods.

Ukraine's comprehensive defence corresponds to the sovereign inalienable right of every state to self-defence against aggression enshrined in the UN Charter and is not aimed at achieving military parity with the Russian Federation, which would lead to excessive militarization of the state. It provides for maintaining the balance and combination of military and non-military means to ensure the military security of Ukraine.

The strategy defines the goals, priorities and objectives of state policy in the military, defence and military construction. The document is aimed at protecting national interests from military threats, repelling and deterring armed aggression against Ukraine, preventing or restraining the enemy from full-scale use of military force against Ukraine, termination of the temporary occupation by the Russian Federation of part of the territory of Ukraine, protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine primarily through the implementation of international legal, political and diplomatic, security, humanitarian and economic measures.

The implementation of the Strategy will contribute to Ukraine's integration into the Euro-Atlantic security space and the acquisition of NATO membership. The document provides for active participation in international peacekeeping and security operations.

According to the Strategy, the priorities in achieving the goals of state policy in the military, defence and military construction are the introduction of joint leadership in the preparation and conducting the comprehensive defence of Ukraine, development of institutional capacities of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and other C2 bodies of the components of the defence forces capable of performing the assigned tasks of other components of the defence forces.

The Strategy is a long-term planning document and the basis for the development of the Strategic Defence Bulletin and the Defence Plan of Ukraine.

The provisions of the Strategy will form the basis of relevant policy documents on defence and development of defence forces, including the development of C2 systems over troops and weapons, naval capabilities, air defence of Ukraine, aviation, missile and artillery forces, intelligence, electronic warfare, weapons and military equipment, improvement of mobilization system, territorial defence of Ukraine and resistance movement.

Also, taking into account the provisions of the Strategy, operational plans and plans for the employment of forces and means of the security and defence sector will be developed.