The article is devoted to answering the question of how the state has provided the opportunity / necessity to protect the already defined and normatively enshrined national interests of Ukraine and how it implements it in practice. It is emphasized that the Law of Ukraine "On National Security of Ukraine" of 21.06.2018 № 2469-VIII does not define the category of "preservation of national interests", and also appeals to such a term as "protection" in the context of national interests of Ukraine. Based on the analysis of normative and scientific sources, it was found that these legal categories are different. They are elements of ensuring the state of protection of the individual, society and the state. The author defines the preservation of national interests of Ukraine as a system of various measures that are objectified in the form of administrative activities of authorized entities of the security sector and aimed at preventing any intentional destructive impact on Ukraine's protection from internal and external threats to its national security. It is noted that the category "preservation of national interests of Ukraine" depending on the variation of the conceptual analysis can be characterized as an object of administrative and legal regulation, and of activity authorized entities of the security sector, as in a general sense represents the activities of various on the legal status of the subjects, aimed at reducing the level of vulnerability of society to threats to national security. It is emphasized that in the current conditions of the security environment in the country, the main subjects of preservation of national interests of Ukraine are counterintelligence bodies that ensure the state of protection of Ukraine's sovereign rights by preventing any intentions of foreign states, organizations or individuals to harm national security of Ukraine.