23 PERCENT OF UKRAINE’S TERRITORY UNDER THREAT AS AN INDICATOR OF THE CRISIS OF LEGAL REGULATION OF MINE ACTION ACTIVITIES

Abstract

The scientific article provides a comprehensive administrative and legal analysis of the mine action regulation system in Ukraine in the context of full-scale armed aggression by the Russian Federation and significant mine contamination of the state territory. It is substantiated that more than 23% of the territory of Ukraine is under the threat of explosive objects, which necessitates the improvement of the legal and institutional model of mine action management. Based on the analysis of legislation, subordinate regulations, the National Mine Action Strategy until 2033, international IMAS standards, as well as scientific and analytical sources, the structure of regulatory and legal support in the studied area is determined, the powers of key subjects of state administration are characterized, and practical problems of their interaction are analyzed. It was found that the current regulatory system has signs of institutional fragmentation, duplication of functions between executive bodies, regulatory conflicts, insufficient unification of certification procedures for mine action operators and limited mechanisms for financial support for humanitarian demining. Particular attention is paid to the problems of the legal status of affected persons, the lack of a unified register of contaminated territories, inconsistency of land legislation with mine action norms and insufficient harmonization of national standards with international requirements. Based on the research, seven systemic problems of legal regulation were identified and directions for their solution were proposed, in particular, the creation of a single central executive body with a special status, consolidation of certification functions, improvement of compensation mechanisms, introduction of a single information system for accounting for contaminated territories and strengthening the coordination of international assistance. It is concluded that effective legal modernization of the mine action system is a necessary prerequisite for restoring Ukraine’s economic potential, ensuring the safety of the population, and returning contaminated territories to productive use.