TRENDS IN CRIMINAL LAW COUNTERACTION TO CRIMES COMMITTED BY MILITARY PERSONNEL: AN ANALYSIS OF OFFICIAL CRIMINAL STATISTICS

Abstract

The article explores the transformative impact of full-scale war on the landscape of criminal justice in Ukraine, focusing on statistical trends in countering crime among military personnel. Military personnel perform the vital function of state defense under extreme physical and psychological stress, these circumstances necessitate a rigorous scientific analysis in the context of rising crime rates rather than silence.

The empirical basis of the study comprises a synthesis of official data from the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine, processed and visualized using the CrimeDataLab platform.

The study establishes that military criminal offenses have emerged as a dominant segment of contemporary criminal statistics. In 2024, their share in the structure of recorded criminal proceedings rose to 19%, and by 2025, it reached a critical 36.2%. Simultaneously, the number of convicted individuals who were military personnel increased to 7,171.

A significant portion of the research is dedicated to the phenomenon of "primitivization" in criminal justice, particularly regarding drug-related offenses. It is revealed that 95% of convictions for drug crimes among military personnel involve possession without intent to sell (Article 309 of the CC), shifting the focus from structural threats to "easy targets". Furthermore, the article analyzes the correlation between combat experience and situational violence, noting an increase in convictions for offenses against life and health, as well as property crimes like robbery and property damage.

The study substantiates the necessity of adjusting state policy by integrating criminal law with organizational, medical, psychological, and rehabilitative measures to ensure successful social reintegration and reduce the risks of recidivism.

Keywords: military personnel, military criminal offenses, criminal liability, criminal statistics, CrimeDataLab, martial law, desertion, unauthorized absence (UA), crime counteraction, illicit drug trafficking, domestic violence, criminal offenses against property.