Committee for State Security (Ukraine)

Committee for State Security of Ukraine (KDB) (Ukrainian: Комітет державної безпеки України, romanized: Komitet derzhavnoї bezpeky Ukraїny) was the main security and intelligence agency of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (Ukrainian SSR) during the Soviet era. It was the Ukrainian equivalent of the KGB (Committee for State Security) of the Soviet Union. The KDB operated under the authority of both the Ukrainian SSR government and the central Soviet KGB, maintaining internal security, counter-intelligence, and foreign intelligence functions within the republic.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the declaration of Ukrainian independence, the KDB was renamed and reorganized several times. Its functions and structure were significantly altered, leading to the creation of successor agencies responsible for different aspects of national security, including the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The exact nature of the transition and the degree of continuity between the KDB and its successors remain subjects of historical debate and analysis. While some personnel and operational methods likely carried over, the ideological framework and ultimate political allegiance underwent a dramatic shift.

The KDB's archives remain a significant subject of research, providing valuable insight into the complexities of the Soviet era in Ukraine, including political repression, espionage, and the intricate relationships between the central Soviet authority and the Ukrainian SSR. However, access to these archives is often limited, hindering comprehensive historical investigation. Furthermore, the full extent of the KDB's activities, particularly regarding covert operations and human rights abuses, remains largely unknown.

Further research is needed to fully document the KDB's history, organization, and operations. Specific details regarding its personnel, budget, and operational successes and failures require further investigation.