Antiterrorist Center at the Security Service of Ukraine () is a permanent body at the Security Service of Ukraine, which coordinates the activity of the counterterrorism actors in the prevention of terrorist acts against state officials, objects of critical infrastructure and objects of increased danger, as well as acts that threaten life and health of a significant number of people, and termination of such terrorist acts.
Antiterrorist Center was established on December, 11, 1998 by the Presidential decree №1343.
The ATC is a legal entity, has an independent balance sheet, accounts in the State Treasury of Ukraine, forms, seals and stamps with its name, as well as a seal with the image of the National Emblem of Ukraine.
Activity
In its activity the ATC follows the Constitution of Ukraine, laws of Ukraine, decrees and orders of the President of Ukraine, acts of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Regulations “On the Antiterrorist Center and its coordination groups at the regional bodies of the Security Service of Ukraine”, and other regulatory and legal acts.
The main tasks of the ATC:
collection, systematization, analysis and estimation of information on terrorism and its trends in Ukraine and abroad; development of conceptual bases and counterterrorism programs, recommendations on enhancing the effectiveness of counterterrorism measures in detecting and eliminating reasons and conditions, which facilitate conduction of terrorist acts and other crimes, committed with a terrorist purpose, making-up plans to prevent and suppress terrorist activities; organization and conduction of antiterrorist operations and coordination of counterterrorism actors activities; organization and conduction of table-top and special-tactical exercises and trainings; interaction with foreign special services, law-enforcement agencies and international organizations on the issues of counterterrorism; participation in the preparation of draft international treaties, preparation and submission of proposals on improvements of Ukrainian legislation in the field of counterterrorism, financing the conduction of antiterrorist operations carried out by the counterterrorism actors, taking measures on prevention, detection and elimination of the terrorist activities.
In accordance with the Presidential Decree of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Decrees of the President of Ukraine" of 09.06.2022 No. 398, the ATC was assigned with new tasks:
assistance to the intelligence agencies of Ukraine in the implementation of their tasks and performance of the functions provided for by the Law of Ukraine "On Intelligence"; assistance to operational units of counterterrorism actors in solving the tasks of operational and investigative activities; participation in countering subversive manifestations in the prescribed manner.
Also, in 2023 some amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On combating terrorism” were adopted. Due to these amendments the powers of the ATC were expanded and now include;
formation and maintaining a list of terrorist organizations and groups (legal framework is currently being developed); national coordination of the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions regarding international terrorism; interaction with special services and law-enforcement agencies of foreign countries and international organization regarding issues of combating terrorism and information exchange about passengers of international flights. The ATC and Ukrainian counterterrorism actors has a right to obtain and use the data on passengers in order to fulfil legally defined tasks. Legal framework for creation and functioning of the Passengers information unit (PIU) within the ATC structure is currently being developed.
With the purpose of practicing skills of reacting on the terrorist act, the ATC at the Security Service of Ukraine organizes and coordinates the conduction of the antiterrorist command post and special tactical exercise as well as special trainings. To be more specific, during 2015-2021 more than 9 000 special trainings, 450 exercises were conducted. Also, ATC took part in the international exercises (“Strongboarder-2017” (Ukraine, Moldova), “Bukovyna-2018” (Ukraine, Moldova, Romania), abd multinational exercise (“SeaBreeze”, “Rapid Trident”, “Joint Effort”).
Structure of the ATC
The ATC at the SSU consists of:
• The interdepartmental coordination commission is a consultative and advisory body that work in a form of meetings organized in case of necessity but at least once per quarter and in case of a terrorist act or the threat thereof, extraordinary or emergency meetings are convened.