The geographical features of the role of cities as centers of administrative administration in Ukraine are revealed. Their importance in the structure of the administrative and territorial structure of the state is shown. The main problems of city management are analyzed from a geographical perspective. Examples of the mismatch between the needs of modern society and the administrative status and composition of individual city councils are given. The main directions of improvement of the modern hierarchy of the administrative-territorial structure of Ukraine in the context of administrative reform in the framework of European integration are outlined. Keywords: city, administrative and territorial structure of the State, city council.