[1] Shadow governments are not officialised in Ukraine, nor do they hold any real power and significance.

[4] By the 2007, when after a long-lasting political crisis, which led to the snap 2007 parliamentary election, the "orange coalition" blocs, BYuT and NUNS, agreed to form a coalition government,[5] largest opposition party in the Verkhovna Rada, Party of Regions, pledged to form a shadow cabinet, if party becomes the opposition.

[6] Despite Yanukovych's wishes to form a "united opposition government", other two opposition factions, Lytvyn Bloc and Communist Party of Ukraine stated that they would not join the shadow cabinet.

[7] On 21 December 2007, the shadow cabinet of Viktor Yanukovych gathered for their first meeting in the former headquarters of Yanukovych's presidential campaign team, the Zoryanyi cinema building.

[8] The shadow cabinet is composed of the shadow prime minister, 20 ministers, and four other members without portfolio (National Bank governor, heads of the Security Service, the State Tax Administration and the State Customs Service).