The department of regional relations investigates regional aspects of the Ukrainian-Russian relations in a context of maintenance of national safety of Ukraine.

Main direction of researches is the analysis of a condition, main tendencies and perspectives of development of economic mutual relations of Ukraine both Russia and their influence to territorial differentiation of base parameters of socio economic development of regions of Ukraine, proceeding from major aspects of economic interdependence of both countries. Separate aspect of this problem is the regional socio economic cooperation of Ukraine and Russian Federation, including development of cooperation of borderland regions, in particular, with use of a potential of free economic zones (FEZ) in regions of Ukraine as orbs of interests of the Russian capital.

The outcomes of these researches are a basis of development of main directions of regional economic policy of Ukraine proceeding from political and socio economic situation in separate regions of Russia, which also is carried out in a department.