Including members of various political parties, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the UPA itself, the UHVR served to convince both Ukrainians and the international community was a serious group concerned with consensus-building and the establishment of an independent state.

[1] The UHVR was not composed wholly of or led by the OUN or UPA, nor individuals from western Ukraine, the OUN's traditional support base; the presidency was held by Kyrylo Osmak, a member of the Ukrainian Socialist-Revolutionary Party and a former member of the Central Rada from Poltava Oblast, while the vice-presidents were members of the centrist Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance party (Vasyl Mudry), the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (Ivan Hrynokh), and the OUN (Ivan Vovchuk [uk]) The only major party in Ukraine not to participate in the UHVR was the wing of the OUN loyal to Andriy Melnyk.

Roman Shukhevych, leader of the UPA, was head of the UHVR's general secretariat and tasked with forming a government.

[3] After the end of the Second World War, the council co-ordinated resistance efforts in Soviet Ukraine.

The ZP UVHR had more long lasting success, with former OUN-B leader Mykola Lebed linked to it.