STATE REGIONAL POLICY OF UKRAINE: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ADJACENT NOTIONS AND CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES TO ITS IMPLEMENTATION

Abstract

The article addresses the transformation of Ukraine’s regional policy under the influence of profound socio-economic and security challenges. The authors emphasize that decentralization, structural shifts in the economy, territorial disparities, demographic risks, and especially the ongoing war necessitate a reconsideration of the traditional concept of regional development policy. A crucial finding is that the security dimension has become an integral element of regional strategies, highlighting the urgent need to preserve and rebuild war-affected territories. The study aims to clarify the conceptual framework of regional policy and to distinguish between the notions of “regional policy,” “state regional policy,” “regional development policy,” and “local development policy.” A comparative analysis is conducted, based on national legislation, strategic documents, OECD recommendations, and European Union practices. The article systematizes the main approaches to understanding regional policy: the classical economic perspective, the Keynesian interventionist model, the institutional approach, and the paradigm of sustainable development. Special attention is devoted to the integration of multi-level governance, the role of local authorities, and the importance of civil society participation. The results demonstrate that state regional policy serves as a key instrument for balancing disparities, fostering cohesion, and ensuring security in Ukraine. It is argued that the effectiveness of this policy depends on coordination between central institutions, regional administrations, local communities, and international donors. Furthermore, the article identifies the strategic importance of developing functional territories—such as recovery areas, growth poles, and sustainable development zones—as drivers of post-war reconstruction and long-term resilience. The novelty of the research lies in integrating the security component into the conceptual framework of regional policy and in proposing a diversified approach to territorial development during the post-war recovery. The article concludes that Ukraine’s regional policy must be innovative, comprehensive, and inclusive, combining sectoral and territorial priorities, mobilizing resources, and ensuring active stakeholder involvement to achieve balanced and sustainable national development.