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was developed. This document systematized the rules of almost all
branches of law. The work on the collection lasted 15 years, but the
document itself has not been officially approved.
During the second half of the XVIII – early XX centuries

Ukrainian lands were under the control of the Austrian and Russian
empires. At that time, in the territory of Ukraine, the Austrian and
Russian legislations acted.

Many important legal documents in Ukraine were created in the
XX century. At the time of the Central Council, 4 Universals were
issued: the first – on June 23, 1917, the second – on July 16, 1917, the
third – on November 20, 1917, the fourth – on January 25, 1918.

The First and Second Universals proclaimed the autonomy of
Ukraine as part of Russia. The third one proclaimed the formation of
the Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR), the 8-hour working day and

other democratic rights and freedoms.
According to the Fourth Universal, Ukraine became an
independent state. At the last meeting of the Central Rada on April 25,

1918, the "Statute on the State System, Rights and Liberties of the
UPR" was adopted. However, as a result of the coup d'etat, made by
Pavlo Skoropadskyi, who declared himself as a hetman of Ukraine,

this document did not come into force. On the same day, P.
Skoropadskyi issued the “Deeds to all Ukrainians” and the Laws on
the Temporary State System of Ukraine.”
After the abdication of Pavlo Skoropadskyi from power (on

December 14, 1918), these documents were canceled, and the power
passed to the Directorate, headed by Symon Petliura. Under his
leadership the Directorate adopted the "Universal of the Labour

Congress" and the "Law on the Form of Ukrainian Government" of
January 22, 1919, as well as the "Law on Provisional Supreme
Government and Procedure of Legislation in the UPR" and "Law on
the State People's Council of the UPR" of November 12, 1919.

However, these documents did not operate on the entire territory of
Ukraine, but only on that part of the territory which were controlled
by the Directorate. Those acts were canceled with the establishment of

Soviet power.
It should also be mentioned about the Constitution of the
Western Ukrainian People's Republic, adopted on November 13,

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