Ukraine maintains an official List of territories where combat operations are (or have been) conducted, or which are temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. The procedure is defined by Resolution No. 1364 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, dated 6 December 2022.

This document is divided into two sections:

Territories in which combat operations have been (or are being) conducted are divided into the following types:

1. territories of possible combat operations;
2. territories of active combat operations;
3. territories where state electronic information resources are functioning and the population can receive state administrative services;

Temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, defined in accordance with the Law of Ukraine ‘On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Citizens and the Legal Regime in the Temporarily Occupied Territory of Ukraine’.

How the List is formed:

1. regional and Kyiv City military administrations prepare proposals for the inclusion of territories in the List;
2. the Ministry for Development processes these proposals and sends them to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine for approval;
3. the Ministry of Defence verifies the data in the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the determination of combat zones;
4. if the data matches, the Ministry of Defence provides written approval;
5. the Ministry for Development issues an order to approve the List and submits it to the Ministry of Justice for state registration.

The List is updated at least twice a month, or whenever necessary.

Inclusion on the List entitles the residents of these territories who have left them to obtain the status of internally displaced persons and receive the relevant social benefits.

Potential combat zones include territories bordering active combat zones, territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation and territories sharing a border with the aggressor country. Certain benefits apply in these areas. For example, employees of institutions, particularly in education and healthcare, may have their salaries increased by up to 50%. Also, under certain conditions, some business inspections may be prohibited temporarily.

The territories of active combat operations are determined by an order issued by the Ministry for Development, which takes into account the decision made by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine regarding combat operation zones. Certain preferences also apply in such territories. For instance, businesses may receive tax breaks or exemptions from certain taxes, and the land tax payment procedure may change. Employees of institutions, particularly in education and healthcare, may receive salary increases of up to 100%. Additionally, business inspections may be prohibited in these areas temporarily.

On 13 August, the Government introduced a comprehensive programme to support frontline territories. The first package covers 238 communities in ten regions, which are home to 6.6 million people. These are areas of active and potential combat operations. The programme focuses on providing direct payments for winter preparations, affordable housing, supporting the local economy and developing security and medical services.

On 24 February 2022, martial law was introduced across Ukraine by the President’s Decree. This provides a list of measures, as defined by the law ‘On the Legal Regime of Martial Law’, which are intended to avert threats, repel armed aggression and protect Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity. In these circumstances, some rights and freedoms of citizens, as well as some rights of legal entities, may be temporarily restricted for a specified period of time.

The list of measures includes the protection of critical infrastructure and life-support facilities, and the introduction of a curfew.

The territory under martial law is defined by the President’s decree. It can be abolished before the end of its term across Ukraine as a whole or in certain areas, provided that the threat of attack or danger to the country’s independence and territorial integrity has disappeared.

The introduction of martial law does not automatically result in the establishment of military administrations. These are only set up when security and defence management at the district or regional level requires it, or when local governments are unable to function.

Therefore, the List of territories in which combat operations are or have been conducted, or which are temporarily occupied, does not dictate the actions of local governments, nor does it oblige them to set up military administrations in these territories.

Detailed information about the comprehensive support programme for frontline regions is available at https://frontlineregions.gov.ua