The state and statehood are the fundamental attributes of the civilizational development of every nation, its independence, and autonomous existence. However, as of today, the general framework of state‑building on Ukrainian lands during the period from Antiquity and the Ancient World to the early Middle Ages remains almost unexplored, which is why this issue is given primary attention. The article defines the terms “state”, “proto‑state”, “statehood”, “state‑building”, and “idea of statehood”. Concepts such as language, people, and statehood are inextricably linked. A nation‑state of a people can be spoken of only from the moment of the emergence not merely of the state itself, but also of the people and their language. It is language that constitutes the defining attribute of a people. Where there is language, there is its bearer – the people. The core phonological and lexical features of the language now known as Ukrainian were fully formed by the 3rd–4th centuries AD. At this time, particularly in 375–376 CE, the earliest references to the Antes and their king Boz appear in Byzantine sources. If there was a king recognised by neighbouring states, then there was also a state. In the state of the Antes, the Ukrainian language was spoken, and therefore their king Boz was an ethnic Ukrainian. These facts provide grounds for another important conclusion: the state of the Antes became the first national Ukrainian state. In 2025, the Kingdom of the Antes marked its 1650th anniversary, and in 2026 it is 1650 years since the death of King Boz.

Authored books

1. Makohon S, Tkach A, Tsvietkov V, Rozvytok radianskoi derzhavnosti na Ukraini (Politvydav Ukrainy 1966) (in Ukrainian).

2. Nash Hryhorii, Istoriia ukrainskoho narodu (Bohdana 1993) (in Ukrainian).

3. Shelest P, Ukraino nasha Radianska (Politvydav 1970) (in Ukrainian).

4. Vynnychenko V, Vidrodzhennia natsii: (Istoriia ukrainskoi revoliutsii [marets 1917 r. – hruden 1919 r.]): v 3 ch. Ch. 2 (Viden, Dzvin 1920) (in Ukrainian).

5. Vynnychenko V, Zapovit bortsiam za vyzvolennia (Knyha rodu 2008) (in Ukrainian).

Edited and translated books

6. Istoriia Ukrainy: Nove bachennia: Navch. posib. (V Smolii (red), Alternatyvy 2000) (in Ukrainian).

7. Klavdii Elian, Strokati istorii (Dzvinka Koval (pereklad) Apriori 2020) (in Ukrainian).

8. Platon, Derzhava (Dzvinka Koval (pereklad), Apriori 2021) (in Ukrainian).

9. Polybyi, Vseobshchaia ystoryia v soroka knyhakh. T. II. Kn. VI–XXV (F Myshchenko (perevod), Yuventa 1995) (in Ukrainian).

10. Tsitseron Mark Tulii, Pro derzhavu; Pro zakony; Pro pryrodu bohiv (V Lytvynov (per.), Osnovy 1998) (in Ukrainian).

11. Ukrainska derzhavnist: istoryko-pravnychi narysy (V Smolii (zah red), 2-he vyd., dopovn., Pravo Ukrainy 2021) (in Ukrainian).

Journal articles

12. Hrechenko V, ‘Do pytannia pro sutnist poniattia “derzhavnist”’ [2002] 20 Visnyk Natsionalnoho universytetu vnutrishnikh sprav 244–249 (in Ukrainian).

13. Shevchuk L, ‘Z istorii stanovlennia ukrainskoi derzhavy: slovianski protoderzhavy’ [2016] 62 Visnyk Lvivskoho universytetu. Seriia yurydychna 72–79 https://doi.org/10.30970/ vla.2016.62.385 (in Ukrainian).

14. Sviatotskyi O, ‘Poniattia, oznaky, atrybuty ta symvoly derzhavnosti’ [2021] 9 Pravo Ukrainy 22 https://doi.org/10.33498/louu-2021-09-022 (in Ukrainian).

15. Taranenko M, Taranenko M, ‘Pershi derzhavni utvorennia na terytorii Ukrainy’ [2016] 1/2 (29/30) Visnyk NTUU “KPI”. Politolohiia, Sotsiolohiia. Pravo (in Ukrainian).

16. Terliuk I, ‘“Derzhava” i “derzhavnist”: do problemy teoretyko-pravovoho ta istoryko- pravovoho zmistu poniat v konteksti ukrainskoho (natsionalnoho) derzhavotvorennia’ [2021] 7(29) Visnyk Natsionalnoho universytetu “Lvivska politekhnika”. Seriia: “Iurydychni nauky” 17–27 https://doi.org/10.23939/law2021.29.017 (in Ukrainian).

Newspaper articles

17. Chorna S, ‘Ukrainska derzhavnist: vytoky ta etapy stanovlennia’ (Holos Ukrainy, 15 travnia 2018 r.) (accessed 29.07.2026) (in Ukrainian).

Encyclopedias and dictionaries

18. Boiko O, Derzhavnist, Velyka ukrainska entsyklopediia (accessed 29.07.2026) (in Ukrainian).

19. Bol’shaja sovetskaja jenciklopedija (v 30 tomah) T. 7. Gogol’ – Debit (A. Prohorov (gl. red.), Sovetskaja jenciklopedija 1972) (in Russian).

20. Derzhavotvorennia (Vikipediia) (accessed 29.07.2026) (in Ukrainian).

21. Filosofskij jenciklopedicheskij slovar’ (Sov. jenciklopedija 1983) (in Russian).

22. Slovnyk ukrainskoi movy: v 11 t. T. 7: Poikhaty-Pryrobliaty (I Bilodid (holova redkol.), Nauk. dumka 1976) (in Ukrainian).

23. Ukrainska radianska entsyklopediia: v 12 t. T. 3: Herdan-Elektrohrafiia (M Bazhan (holov. red.), URE 1979) (in Ukrainian).

24. Ukrainskyi Radianskyi Entsyklopedychnyi Slovnyk: u 3-kh t. T. 1: A – Kabarha (M Bazhan (holov. red.), URE 1986) (in Ukrainian).

25. Yurydychna entsyklopediia. T. 2: D-I (Iu Shemshuchenko (red), Ukrainska entsyklopediia im. M. P. Bazhana 1999) (in Ukrainian).