The dissertation is devoted to the theoretical and methodological substantiation and the development of practical recommendations for improving anti-crisis management to respond to regional challenges in Ukraine. Taking into account the main modern theoretical approaches to public and anti-crisis management, critical assessment of existing definitions, the essence of anti-crisis management in the context of responding to regional challenges is proposed to be considered as an implementation of public and managerial influence by using the mechanisms, principles, methods, means and tools of preventive, active and reactive anti-crisis management to respond to regional challenges, minimizing their negative impact on the development of regions, which is a component of state sustainable development and preventing crises of regional and national scale. Responding to regional challenges will solve problems at an early stage, when they have not yet become real threats, do not pose a danger to regions and the state and require significantly lower settlement costs.
Based on the systematization of approaches to defining the terms "region" and "challenge", classification of challenges, the regional challenges are suggested to be considered as "problems, obstacles to the sustainable development of the region, negative phenomena, contradictions between existing and appropriate, which are the initial stage of realization of a real or potential threat to the development of regions, and the elimination of which involves the transformation of regional socio-economic systems". As a result of the systematization of theoretical approaches, there is proved the expediency of coordinated, rational application of different types of measures of the complex combination of anti-crisis, regional policy and national security policy for settling regional challenges.
In the context of the above-mentioned, the paper identifies a wide range of actors to respond to regional challenges, including public administration authorities of national and regional (including local) levels, representatives of civil society, scientific and expert communities. It is established that the public authorities responsible for the implementation of anti-crisis management in the context of responding to regional challenges in Ukraine include: the President of Ukraine; Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; Cabinet; National Bank of Ukraine; Council of National Security and Defence; specialized anti-corruption bodies, Security Service of Ukraine; Armed Forces of Ukraine; bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs; Ministries and other central executive authorities; Regional and District Councils; and other local government authorities; etc. It was found that in Ukraine, among public institutions, there is no clearly defined main (guiding) element in the anti-crisis management system in the context of responding to regional challenges, and there is no clear delineation of powers in this area. It has been proven that all existing public authorities, within their capabilities, should take the necessary measures to prevent and minimize the negative impact of challenges and crises.
