The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine () or SZRU is an intelligence agency of the Ukrainian government. It carries out its intelligence activities in political, economic, military, scientific, technical information and ecological spheres and subordinates directly to the President of Ukraine.
The Constitution of Ukraine, the Act of Ukraine on Intelligence Bodies and other norms and regulations of Ukraine are the principal guidance for the Foreign Intelligence Service's activities.
History
On 27 January 1919 the Ukrainian People's Republic set up Ukraine's first foreign intelligence agency, the Department of Political Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Directory of the Ukrainian People's Republic. Following the defeat of the Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR) and the incorporation of Ukraine into the Soviet Union this agency was used to gather information about the general situation in Soviet Ukraine, the selection and training agents, residents and couriers. During this period the military special service of the UNR in exile sometimes worked in close contact with intelligence from other countries – mainly Romania, Japan, France, and the United Kingdom. Although it was Poland who hosted and cooperated most with UNR's foreign intelligence agency in exile in the 1920s and 1930s. Since 2019 on 27 January the "Day of Foreign Intelligence of Ukraine" is honoured.
The modern-day Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (FISU) started its activity on October 14, 2004, the day when the President of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma signed the Decree "On the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine". Since then, created on the basis of the Intelligence Department of the Chief Directorate of Intelligence for the SBU, it has been functioning as an independent state body. On December 1, 2005 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved the Law "On the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine". Later it was decided to celebrate on that day the anniversary of creation of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
The FISU organization was formed to meet principal demands of the Service. It comprises operative, analytical, technical, research and development departments, as well as elements of legal support, human resources, logistics and administration. The FISU Institute is responsible for initial training and refresher courses training of foreign intelligence officers.
The FISU is directly subordinated to the President of Ukraine, who appoints the Chairman of the Service.
The FISU cooperates with other intelligence bodies of Ukraine, state authorities, institutions, establishments, as well as organizations, and law enforcement agencies. The FISU has established official contacts and maintained partnership relations with more than 100 foreign special services as well as with the NATO Office of Security. Today the primary issue of Ukrainian foreign policy involves enhancing cooperation with such international organizations as NATO and the European Union. In particular, within the frameworks of the EU-Ukraine integration program, the FISU participates in actions aimed at combating terrorism, countering organized crime, monitoring illegal migration, eliminating drug trafficking, human beings traffic.
According to the Constitution, the FISU operates under direction of the President of Ukraine and the Defense and Security Council of Ukraine, it is also under supervision of the Verkhovna Rada (the Supreme Council of Ukraine). The Accounting Chamber of Ukraine monitors budget expenditures on FISU maintenance. The General Prosecutor of Ukraine and authorized officials provide law enforcement of FISU activities.