The object of the research – interrelation of Russian Federation and Ukraine, determined by the Large contract and other agreements and contracts, signed by two states. The dissertation purpose: on the basis of source base study to carry out the complex historical research of border communications of adjacent regions of Russian Federation and Ukraine; to carry out the historical-critical analysis of directions, forms and methods of humanitarian border Russian-Ukrainian co-operation and to give the recommendations concerning directions of their further development. The methods: historical, logic, method of classification; historical-genetic, historical -comparative, historical-typological, historical-system, chronological, periodization, retrospective (method of historical modeling). Scientific novelty: cross-border cooperation between the Russian Federation and Ukraine in the humanitarian area is developing at a regional level, as the part of ac-cepted agreements on cooperation and by way of direct contacts between the educational and cultural institutions; higher education, secondary level education and upgrade qualifications and professional retraining institutions share informa-tion, develop and agree upon schedule, programs, special events, joint arrangements, conferences, etc; one of the most promising areas of cooperation between the educational institutions of the Russian-Ukrainian border-zone is to work on the implementation of joint scientific projects in the ethnography, history, ecology, archeology field, etc; in turn, the cul-tural institutions hold cultural exchanges, cultural festivals and culture days, exhibitions, competitions, masterclasses, etc., that help to cross-pollinate among the Russian and Ukrainian cultures, strengthen the moral foundations and values, and are aimed to save and develop ethnic, cultural and language identity of the Slavic ethnoses having common roots and history. Practical value of research: the materials of the dissertation can be used in educational process at teaching courses of a history of Russia and history of Ukraine, special courses on politology, geopolitics, study of regions; in re-alization of regional politics in the field of international and foreign economic relations of regions; in development of legislative base of the social-regional programs of development of border cooperation. Sphere of use: higher educational institutions.
