The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the administrative and legal status and organizational principles of Ukraine’s security and defense sector. It is established that the effectiveness of the national protection system depends on the level of institutional organization, distribution of powers, and timely response to threats. It is demonstrated that the security and defense sector integrate a wide range of bodies from the National Police, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and State Migration Service to specialized institutions and national special services. The activities of these bodies are based on the Constitution of Ukraine, special laws, and international obligations, which determine the legitimacy of their decisions. The article reveals the content of the administrative and legal status as a system of rights, duties, guarantees, and limits of responsibility. Three main elements of status are identified: the target component (purpose, objectives), organizational and structural (position in the system, interaction), and competency-based (scope of powers and duties). The paper pays special attention to the role of newly established institutions the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, State Bureau of Investigation, and Economic Security Bureau in combating corruption, protecting public finances, and implementing modern approaches to law enforcement. The system of special services, their interaction, and their functions in intelligence, protection of critical facilities, counterintelligence, and ensuring state sovereignty are examined in detail. The significance of coordinated actions, interagency cooperation, and the existence of clear regulatory guidelines that shape a unified security space is emphasized. The role of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) in countering terrorism, sabotage, information threats, and maintaining the stability of the state system is highlighted. Considerable attention is also given to the integration of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) into the national defense system, implementation of NATO standards, development of a multi-level command model, and interagency cooperation. In conclusion, it is emphasized that increasing the resilience of the security and defense sector is associated with improving administrative and legal foundations, developing a professional culture of public service, enhancing transparency and accountability, ensuring democratic oversight, and adapting to dynamic threats.
D. M. Shvaika (Mon,) studied this question.