Constitution on Pause: How the Monopoly of Power and Martial Law Reshaped Ukraine’s Power Structure

... and other institutions remains unchanged, in practice, key decisions are now concentrated in the hands of the executive. The Office of the President of Ukraine and the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) emerged as the main centers of this new ... ... have expanded, the system of checks and balances has weakened, and the independence of such institutions as the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament), the cabinet of ministers and courts has declined. At the same time, pressure has grown on the opposition ...