The actuality of the research is defined by the importance of a historiographical study of the evolution of scientific knowledge of national and foreign scholars on the Kyiv Offensive Operation in 1943, as well as the absence of generalized works on that scientific subject. At the same time, the modern military history science requirements have ensured the necessity of exposing in sufficiently learned aspects of the Kyiv Offensive Operation in 1943, which have significant theoretical and practical value, identification of discussion issues and unsolved problems, and defining perspective directions for further researches. That is why the historiographical direction of the study of the Kyiv Offensive Operation in 1943 was chosen, given its urgency and importance for the modern military history science development. The thesis systematized the Soviet, foreign and modern national historiography of the Kyiv Offensive Operation in 1943. The historiographical analysis covered scientific works which were unclassified in the post-Soviet period. Based on the source analysis, a conclusion is drawn about its sufficient representativeness and heuristic potential. The researchers prepared a large array of scientific works on the Kyiv Offensive Operation which provides opportunities for historiographical research. On the basis of socio-political conditions, the historiographical process periodization of scientific reflection of the historical events connected with the Kyiv Offensive Operation in 1943 was demonstrated in the thesis. Two periods were defined: Soviet (the foreign historiography of that period was formed, mainly under the conditions of the Cold War) (the end of 1943, the beginning of the 90's) and modern (since 1991). The periods are divided into the stages taking into account the specifics of historical researches in different countries. The peculiarities and tendency of the history writing at different stages of the evolution of scientific knowledge are revealed. The thesis clarifies the state, completeness and reliability of the scientific work of scientists regarding the preparation and conduct of the Kyiv Offensive Operation (from the 3rd of November till 13th of November, 1943). It is proved that in the scientific literature the most complete and reliably issues of organization of the operation, content of command papers of the General Headquarters, decisions of the Front Commander, operations planning at the Front and Army level are revealed. There are insufficiently researched aspects of the operational planning: the organization of coordination and support, the public and military forces (troops) authorities training for combat operations. The thesis proves that the Kyiv Offensive Operation (from the 3rd of November till 13th of November, 1943) refers to the army group operations level and is a part of the Kyiv strategic offensive operation, which, in its turn, consists of operations carried out by the troops of the Voronezh Front (1st Ukrainian) on the Kyiv front (direction) from 11th October to 23rd of December, 1943. The purpose of the strategic operation was to defeat the German force grouping on the right bank of Dnipro river in the sector of the First Ukrainian Front (Voronezh), to liberate the capital of Ukraine, to take the strategic place of arras, to hold it, and to create conditions for the deployment of troops for further offensive on the Right-Bank Ukraine. It was conducted during the strategic offensive of the Soviet troops - the so-called "Battle of the Dnipro". Based on the historiographical research, some discussion aspects and unresolved historical problems of the Kyiv offensive operation of 1943 were found. They are: chronological frameworks, operational level estimation, warring factions' military art assessment, losses and damages. The thesis outlines directions for future research which are determined by the necessity of an in-depth study of the Kyiv strategic offensive operation held in October-December period of 1943 including all offensive and defensive operations of the Voronezh Front (1st Ukrainian) with embodied army troops. Key words: World War II, Battle of the Dnipro, strategic and army group operations, Kyiv Offensive Operation in 1943, 1st Ukrainian Front, historiography.
