1Department of National Security, Public Management and Administration, Faculty of National Security, Law and International Relations, Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University, Zhytomyr, Ukraine
2Department of Law Enforcement Activities, Educational and Scientific Institute of Law and International Legal Relations, University of Customs and Finance, Dnipro, Ukraine
3Department of Constitutional, Administrative and Labor Law, Faculty of Law, Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
*Corresponding author: olgaodynokova@gmail.com (ORCID ID:: 0009-0002-0987-8293)
Online published on 18 February, 2025.
The full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, turned the usual life of Ukrainians upside down. Although the war in the country has been going on for almost 10 years, martial law has affected the state apparatus, including law enforcement authorities. The purpose of the academic paper is to characterize the impact of martial law on law enforcement and law enforcement authorities in the context of domestic and foreign experience. The activities of law enforcement authorities in Ukraine are aimed primarily at protecting society and the state in conditions of martial law, as well as at investigating crimes committed by Russia against the Ukrainian people. The invaluable exchange of experience with foreign colleagues has already yielded tangible results, contributing to coordinated and fruitful work for the benefit of society. The activities of law enforcement bodies have changed under martial law. The existing responsibilities have been supplemented by new ones defined by the relevant regulatory acts. Law enforcement authorities continue to effectively fulfill their tasks, including in places where active hostilities are taking place, bringing victory closer step by step. An issue of imposition of martial law has been covered in the academic paper. The features of the impact of martial law on law enforcement, including changes in legislation, have been characterized. The peculiarities of pre-trial investigation and court proceedings under martial law, including investigation of war crimes, crimes against humanity and acts of genocide, prosecution for collaboration, and protection of human rights have been considered. The issues of detection of sabotage and reconnaissance groups, organization of checkpoints’ activities, and evacuation of civilians have been separately identified. The analysis of the international legal experience of law enforcement authorities in the conditions of a full-scale war has been conducted.
⓿ The imposition of martial law in Ukraine has led to significant transformations in the duties, powers, and procedures of law enforcement authorities, necessitating the adaptation of their functions to address new challenges arising from the full-scale invasion, and these changes have been successfully implemented to ensure defense, national security, and public order.
⓿ Law enforcement agencies in Ukraine have effectively adjusted to the demands of the full-scale war, expanding their roles beyond traditional law enforcement functions, embracing new powers and obligations, collaborating with international partners, and demonstrating resilience in maintaining public safety and order despite the complexities introduced by the martial law conditions.
Martial law, Law enforcement, Law enforcement authorities, War crimes
