Civil society and the Armed Forces of Ukraine: legal aspects of interaction under conditions of hybrid war

Abstract

The research paper provides a critical authors’ analysis of the complex problems of legal interaction between members of civil society and the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the context of hybrid military aggression, as well as a number of practically indicative recommendations aimed at improving the corresponding interaction in the form of an ongoing dialogue. The historical origins and modern approaches of the NATO states to the development of the model of civil-military cooperation have been revealed. Relevant provisions of the Doctrine of civil-military cooperation in Ukraine and the norms of legal acts related to this topic have been analyzed as well.

It has been revealed that domestic practice is currently at the crossroads and finding a balance between the stimulating role of civil society institutions and the threat of attempts to manipulate the activities of public authorities through public opinion. At the same time, special place in public authorities is occupied by the bodies entrusted with law enforcement and law enforcement functions, the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other militarized public authorities. Recent reforms have made the system of militarized public authorities in Ukraine more open and accessible for continuous cooperation with the general public.

Overall, an analysis of the Ukrainian CIMIC Doctrine has demonstrated that its key provisions have been largely elaborated based on the NATO CIMIC standards. At the same time, expertise and “real time” civil-military initiatives in Eastern NATO member states, remain relevant and to the point for the new Ukrainian CIMIC model, which in many aspects remains under personnel, technical and resource collaboration.