War In Ukraine Research Articles

Field Artillery in the defensive war of Ukraine 2022-2023. Part II. Methods of task implementation

This article is a continuation of the considerations regarding the use of field artillery in Ukraine’s defensive war in the period from 24th February 2022 to the 2023 summer offensive of the Ukrainian army. Artillery in this armed conflict is used by both sides with great intensity and is an essential means of fire support, often decisive for the success of the implemented operations. The aim of the second part of the article is to present ways of using field artillery units in selected operations of the Ukrainian war. As before, the subject of the research is the missile forces and artillery of the warring parties, but in this case, above all, the way they carry out their tasks. In his research, the author wants to answer the following problematic questions: How did the field artillery units of both parties involved in the conflict carry out combat tasks in selected phases of the war? What conclusions can be drawn from this for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, which are currently increasing their capabilities, especially their artillery capabilities, as well as for other NATO armies? The Author, an artillery officer by education and currently a military academic teacher academically involved in the issue of state military security, based his academic analysis largely on his personal academic achievements and conclusions gained from participating in military exercises, conversations, and workshops conducted with Ukrainian officers before the outbreak of the war, as well as on the latest academic studies and reports on the course of warfare.

International humanitarian law and the war in Ukraine – Russian aggression and the legal-political possibilities of punishing the perpetrators

International humanitarian law of armed conflicts (known as humanitarian law) is a set of rules that seek to limit the effects of armed conflict. It protects persons who are not or are no longer participating in the hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare. International humanitarian law is part of public international law and therefore regulates relations between states in times of peace and war. The aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine in February 2022, preceded by hybrid military operations in Crimea and the eastern regions of Ukraine since 2014, demonstrated – once again in the history of international law – that prosecuting and bringing perpetrators of war crimes before an international criminal court is not easy from the point of view of either law or politics, specifically their correlations with international relations. States are strongly dependent on each other, but the prospect of returning to the pre-war situation, with the desire to maintain the status quo at all costs, trouble-free economic exchange and, finally, the resumption of economic investments are all somehow in contradiction with the humanitarian obligation to stop the hostilities, and arrest and persecute the aggressor. It is no different in the case of the war in Ukraine, where achieving international justice seems to be a legal and political mirage.

Management and Marketing of the Wartime Agribusiness in Ukraine

Introduction. Full-scale military actions led to the need for radical changes in the management of agricultural enterprises. Effective management of Ukrainian agribusiness under conditions of military aggression can contribute to the stability of revenues to the country's budget and strengthen national security, particularly in providing the population with food and jobs in depressed rural regions. The state of war in Ukraine determines the peculiarities of the activities of agricultural enterprises and, accordingly, forms the peculiarities of agricultural management, which requires scientific research.
 Aim and tasks. The study aims to develop directions and tools for managing agricultural enterprises in the conditions of war in Ukraine. The task of the study was to develop a mathematical model of operational change in the goal of an agro-enterprise, establish conditions for changing agribusiness goals, determine wartime requirements for agribusiness management, and assess the impact of the war on the components of the resource potential of agricultural enterprises.
 Results. A mathematical model of the operative change in the purpose of an agro-enterprise under the conditions of acquisition of integral risks, including the risk of military operations, of a degree greater than 50%, has been developed. The study of the components of the resource potential established the following: the growth of the dynamism of the land market, the acceleration of the redistribution of land ownership - the alienated area of land in 2023 compared to 2022 has almost doubled; the share of individual entrepreneurs in the total number increased by 19.8% in 2022; a decrease in the level of provision of labour resources, which has long-term and short-term dimensions related to military operations, reducing the volume of imports of agricultural machinery by approximately 30–35%. The implementation of effective management requires a comprehensive approach to the formation of systemic prerequisites for agricultural activity and the improvement of the structure of agricultural production, taking into account the impact of the war in Ukraine.
 Conclusions. The developed mathematical model makes it possible to change the goals of agricultural enterprises in an operational manner and form an appropriate level of competitiveness to ensure the viability of agricultural enterprises. The proposed directions and management tools of agricultural enterprises will ensure an increase in the efficiency of agribusiness management during wartime conditions. Evaluation of the impact of the war on the components of the resource potential of agricultural enterprises will increase the efficiency of resource use.

Accountability for the Crimes Against Civilians Committed During the Armed Conflict in Ukraine

The article explores the question of crimes committed against the civilian population during the war in Ukraine and the possible ways of bringing to justice those responsible. A full-scale aggression launched by Russia has caused death and widespread suffering of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and combatants. The article focuses on the events following 24th February, 2022, bearing in mind that the conflict had started much earlier – with the illegal annexation of Crimea and the beginning of fighting in eastern part of the Ukraine in 2014. After introductory remarks in the first section, the second part of this article will be focusing on different acts constituting war crimes that were committed during the war in Ukraine, and the third part will address existing accountability mechanisms and briefly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

Forces of energy welfare in Central Europe: The Russian war in Ukraine as a game changer

The Russian war in Ukraine has changed global geopolitical priorities and the policies of individual countries. The consequences of this ongoing war will be felt for decades to come, including the militarisation of states and the strengthening of political-military alliances. This article explores the effects of this conflict through the lens of energy welfare, which is used as an essential litmus test for the transforming economies of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries in Central Europe. Energy security and the energy transition have become critical topics, and energy security and its impact on social welfare affect the sensitive areas of policy choices that will determine the direction of development in this part of Europe. The V4 countries – Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary – illustrate a wide range of domestic and geopolitical orientations that place individual countries in different decision-making situations. The ideological and political forces determine the scope for achieving energy welfare and are, therefore, the subject of this article. Based on macroeconomic and survey data results, the article’s primary research query examines how the V4 countries’ reliance on Russian fossil fuels affects their political attitudes and societal perceptions of the conflict in Ukraine, and the implications for their energy security and welfare in the face of the European Green Deal efforts. The different strategies adopted by the four countries considered translate into energy transition pathways to a low carbon economy described in the European Green Deal and strategies to provide energy at a reasonable price at the expense of a coherent European policy towards Russian aggression.

MARKET OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AT THE PRESENT STAGE IN UKRAINE

In modern conditions, the role of education is growing along with the development of human activity. The issue of the further development of the educational services market is becoming even more urgent, and especially in the conditions of the war in Ukraine. The article focuses attention on the important role of the market of educational services in providing alternative learning opportunities due to security measures. The concept of the market of educational services was analyzed and its main subjects were determined. It is noted that the market of educational services exists in conditions of fierce competition. The author identified the factors affecting the market of educational services. Emphasis is placed on the fact that the educational services market is a leading factor in economic growth, employment and income. The number of students of higher education institutions in Ukraine, the number of foreign students and other indicators of the educational services market were analyzed. It has been noted and proven that education acts as a stabilizing force, and it is especially important during the years of war in Ukraine, despite the fact that some students are abroad. The author singled out serious challenges faced by the education market in Ukraine in the context of Russia’s military aggression. Proposed directions for solving challenges in Ukraine at the current stage.

Digital loans and buy now pay later from LendTech versus bank loans in the era of ‘black swans’: Complementarity in the area of consumer financing

Research background: People who take non-banking loans are primarily perceived as excluded from accessing bank services. The growth of e-commerce and the increasing digitalisation of customer interactions with banks was particularly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic (the first ‘black swan’). These processes have also influenced the rapid growth of the LendTech (LT) sector within FinTech with its digital loans and buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services. The war in Ukraine (the second ‘black swan’) has led to an energy crisis, increased inflation, interest rates and credit costs, and reduced credit accessibility. In this context, the following research questions are addressed: Are the LT and banking sectors complementary or substitutive in the area of consumer financing? Does complementarity apply to all customer segments and loan amounts? How does the extent of complementarity or substitutability of the LT sector depend on, and to what extent do changes in the regulatory and macroeconomic environment affect, the interaction between the banking and LT sectors? Purpose of the article: The aim of the article is to identify trends in the LT sector within FinTech in the context of assessing the scale and determinants of current and future complementarity of the non-bank sector and the banking sector in the area of consumer credit in time of black swans. An additional purpose of the article is to estimate revenues from the basic operating activities of companies from the on-line channel. Methods: The research process was multi-stage and the research procedure was structured. Due to the lack of a uniform source of data on LT products and services, the study used many data sources — data from the Credit Information Bureau, a primary nationwide survey on LT users a primary survey of people representing LT's managerial staff. The selection of LTs was carried out according to the concept of the monetary sampling unit. The Horvitz-Thompson estimator with Sen‐Yates‐Grundy variance form was used to estimate net operating income for LT from the online channel in 2021. Findings & value added: The LT companies surveyed state that black swans (the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine) and the current macroeconomic situation have not significantly affected demand for non-banking loans. The reduction in the opportunities for the LT sector as a result of anti-usury regulations will only lead to a shift in consumer demand to the pawnshop sector and the shadow economy, which will be detrimental to consumers. Complementarity between LT and the banking sector is revealed especially in crisis situations, thus limiting the effects of market shock (limited supply of loans offered by banks). In periods of stabilisation, a rather clear division of preferences is noticeable – in the case of seniors and loans for higher amounts, banks dominate, while in the case of lower amounts and in younger age groups, non-bank institutions are more popular. The mechanism by which shrinking banking services are replaced by LT in short-term crises confirms the importance of LT in balancing the Consumer Finance market in the face of unstable periods. From a medium- and long-term perspective, it should be noted that inflation and rising interest rates will increase the scale of credit exclusion in commercial banks, shifting part of the demand to the non-bank sector. These phenomena have an international dimension. Similar observations were made already in 2012 by the CFPB in the USA and the British FTA, when analysing the consumer finance market immediately after the subprime crisis, emphasising the effects of limiting access to bank consumer loans and the resulting growth of the LT market (Gębski, 2013).

Psychological and Pedagogical Aspects of Adaptation of Displaced Ukrainian Children to the Educational Environment of Another Country

The sudden and unexpected war in Ukraine led to a large flow of citizens displaced abroad. Almost half of them are preschool- and school-age children. The peculiarities of their adaptation to the educational environment of another country necessitates the study of the main aspects of adaptation in these conditions. The aim is to identify the psychological and pedagogical aspects of adaptation to the educational environment of another country of school-age refugee children. The research included the use of surveys, questionnaires (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ), analysis of official information sources. The research found that the studied 203 children relocated to other countries have high rates of adaptation to the educational environment. Their performance indicators improved, high satisfaction with school, teachers, and relationships with classmates was revealed. The SDQ found a low overall level of adjustment difficulties (M=16.3, SD=1.9). The study showed that, in general, displaced Ukrainian children have high rates of adaptation to the educational space of other countries. They are emotionally stable, sociable, moderately hyperactive, have no behavioural disorders, and have high prosocial behaviour. The obtained results can contribute to the development of a programme to support Ukrainian children of immigrants to the educational environment of other countries, which will contribute to their psychological and pedagogical adaptation to it.

Analysis of the Advancement of Public-Private Partnership in Ukraine

Introduction. The significant amount of destruction caused by the war in Ukraine necessitates the involvement of all forms of financial and organizational support for the country's reconstruction process. A tried-and-tested method of attracting resources to this process is a public-private partnership. The intensification of public-private partnerships aims to meet the basic needs of the population during martial law before creating the necessary conditions for economic recovery after the war. Since the war led to the stagnation of the specified process, the obstacles and peculiarities of public-private partnerships in this period need to be researched.
 Aim and tasks. The purpose of this study is to analyse the impact of martial law conditions on the activation of public-private partnerships to reveal its role in the recovery of the country's economy based on the analysis of available data to identify trends and significant results that can shed light on the activation of the public-private partnership process. This determines the following tasks: to investigate obstacles to the activation of public-private partnership from 2021 to this time, and to establish peculiarities, urgent directions, and prerequisites for implementing projects, measures, methods, and forms of public-private partnership in the specified period.
 Results. The analysis showed that, in recent years, the contractual discipline of partnership projects has significantly deteriorated, and the range of directions for their implementation has narrowed and does not correspond to the priorities specified in the legislation. Thus, in 2021, only 16% of agreements were realized, 16.6% were terminated, and 61.6% still needed to be implemented. Directions for their implementation are not urgent in wartime conditions. Business activity is restrained by the risks of war, incomplete compliance of the legal framework with the conditions of war, and the intensification of illegal actions against investment objects. In total, 363 court cases related to raiding were initiated in 2023, reflecting a two-fold increase compared to 2022. The identified peculiarities, directions, and prerequisites for the implementation of public-private partnerships intensify the implementation process.
 Conclusions. Measures to reduce risks and change the approaches to their distribution in partnership agreements have been proposed. It is proposed to introduce an institute of small investors, which will strengthen public control of public-private partnership projects and ensure the attraction of additional private investments in the process of rebuilding the country. This is substantiated by the fact that 61% of the surveyed citizens are ready to participate financially in the reconstruction of the country's infrastructure and 33% are ready to participate if they have a financial opportunity.

Targeting in the Russian-Ukrainian War: The Crossroads of Legal and Technical Aspects

Article 82 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions requires competent legal advisors to be available, when necessary, to advise military commanders at the appropriate level on the application of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). One of the most important fields of IHL application which requires legal advice is attacks on the enemy, which need to follow the principles of military necessity, humanity, distinction, and proportionality, and are also affected by the requirement to undertake all feasible precautions in order to avoid or at least minimise incidental harm to civilians (collateral damage). One of the ways to ensure that attacks on enemy remain compliant with the requirements of IHL is by adopting appropriate targeting procedures and tools facilitating avoidance or minimising collateral damage, such as the Collateral Damage Estimation Methodology (CDEM). Media coverage of the Russian-Ukrainian war has contributed significantly to the misperception of IHL provisions applicable to targeting. During the war in Ukraine, political declarations were made several times that a war crime had occurred in the form of a deliberate attack on the civilian object. However, the legality of a particular strike can rarely be judged based upon the results of the strike or via post-strike Battle Damage Assessment (BDA). The so-called Rendulic rule emphasises that military necessity, proportionality, and precautions are judged a priori, based upon by the information available at the time of the decision (circumstances ruling at the time) and not on the basis of information emerging after the decision had been made. Legal Advirsors’ role in the targeting process requires them to possess at least the basic knowledge of the Targeting Process and the CDEM, general military expertise in the fields of Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs), as well as effects of the employment of particular weapon systems in given circumstances. This should be supported by thorough knowledge of IHL, in particular the practical aspects of its application in military operations. It should be about the intersection of legal and technical expertise.

War as an Accession Accelerator? Ukraine’s Path Towards the EU

The European Union’s response to the war in Ukraine is perceived as swift and relatively coherent. The political willingness to support its attacked neighbour has also extended to Ukraine’s membership bid. Despite protracting war and worsening Ukraine’s position, there are no doubts over the state’s commitment to reforms. For now, it can be safely assumed that Ukraine will pursue its path towards membership. Can fighting war and pushing an arduous accession process be balanced by the political will of the EU Member States rooted in a wartime gesture of solidarity?

Strategic development of Ukraine’s economy until 2030: analysis of opportunities and potential threats

The paper analyzes the main aspects of the strategic development of the economy until 2030. Ukraine has significant strategic advantages due to its natural resources, geographical location and the quality of human capital, which in general can become the basis for the rapid economic growth of the country. The purpose of the paper is the detailed analysis of opportunities and potential threats of strategic economic development for the period up to 2030. The research is aimed at identifying the main prerequisites that influence the adoption of the strategy. Special attention will be paid to the analysis of directions of strategic economic development. It is emphasized that the national economy is a dynamic, complex, self-improving socio-economic system, and economic development is irreversible, aimed at qualitative and quantitative changes in the national economy. This study shows that economic development strategies are crucial to the implementation of recovery programs aimed at overcoming social displacement and creating an ecologically clean economy. The war in Ukraine makes it impossible to follow traditional social norms and conventional political projects, but it can be used to take decisive steps to put the country on the path to achieving the goals of sustainable development. Ukraine needs to gradually bring its policy closer to EU standards. Ukraine’s development policy should take into account national interests, circumstances and opportunities and focus, in particular, on new promising economic mechanisms currently being implemented by the EU as part of its sustainable development strategy and economic model. Ukraine should develop its own defense strategy based on readiness for any development of events, initiate innovative research and promote technology transfer to the civilian economy. In the future, work will be carried out to implement the proposed direction of the country’s development.

Retrospective analysis of factoring development in Ukraine: theoretical and legal aspect

The paper highlights the etymology of the concept of "factoring" in the national research area. We are aware of the fact that factoring is a financial commission operation in which the client assigns their accounts receivable to a factoring company with the objective of instant receiving a larger amount of the payment; guaranteeing the full debt repayment; and cost reduction of the account management. The essence and content of factoring are investigated from the perspective of theoretical and legal aspects. An analysis of the stages of formation and development of factoring in Ukraine is conducted, and the following four stages are identified: the first stage from 1990 to 1999 which refers to the formation of the factoring market; the rise in popularity of factoring marks the second stage from 2000 to 2009; the third stage from 2010 to 2019 depicts the crisis in the factoring market; the transformation of the factoring market characterizes the fourth stage from 2020 to the present day. It is determined that the war in Ukraine significantly impacts the financial sector as a whole and the financial market in particular. Without any exaggeration, the full-scale invasion has marked a turning point for the Ukrainian financial market, as well as for the entire global financial system. Currently, there is no legislative act in the domestic legal field that is dedicated to the complex regulation of the factoring institution. The analysis of the current legislative framework has revealed a low level of legal support for the factoring market.

The principle of freedom of speech during the effect of martial state in Ukraine: certain legal aspects

Introduction. The paper focuses on a topical topic - the effect of the principle of freedom of speech in martial law conditions in Ukraine. It is noted that in the context of modern global realities, where the preservation of national security becomes the highest priority for the state, the issue of limiting freedom of speech in the conditions of martial law. In this context, the question arises of ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens, in particular, freedom of speech, which is traditionally one of the fundamental values of a democratic society. The purpose of the paper is to investigate the legal aspects of the principle of freedom of speech during martial law in Ukraine. Results. The author emphasizes that the influence of martial law on freedom of speech in Ukraine is enormous because the ongoing war in Ukraine has a significant impact on freedom of speech. In this regard, during the martial law in Ukraine, freedom of speech is limited. In particular, some mass media were forced to suspend their work because their activities could be considered a violation of martial law. The paper analyzes leading scientists' approaches to limiting freedom of speech during martial law. They consider the conflict between ensuring national security and preserving citizens' fundamental rights and freedoms. The author summarizes that the scientific approach to restrictions on freedom of speech under martial law includes: an analysis of constitutional principles; the relationship with international law; the role of the Constitutional Court is to ensure legality and protect the rights of citizens. Conclusion. The work summarizes that the scientific analysis of freedom of speech during wartime not only contributes to deepening the understanding of the problems of this sphere but also indicates the need to develop effective mechanisms for its protection in crises. It is summarized that restrictions on freedom of speech are possible during wartime.

Participation of military logistics services in the provision of food in Warsaw in september 1939

The fighting in September 1939 has been the subject of a large body of historical literature. Nevertheless, due to the scattered and incomplete source base, many issues require further research and a deeper, broader treatment. This is all the more important because the course of contemporary conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine with the Russian Federation, shows the recurring nature of many experiences in military history. On the basis of a historical analysis of unknown and hitherto unused accounts from the Polish Central Military Archives (PCMA), the Archives of the Polish Institute and the General Sikorski Museum, the Pilsudski Institute in London, supplemented by documents from the PCMA and the literature on the subject, the authors’ goal is to show the crucial problems of food supply for troops fighting in the defense of Warsaw in September 1939. As a research hypothesis, they assumed that despite the planning, organisational, formal and practical difficulties, it was mainly thanks to the initiative and resourcefulness of some officers of various levels and various supply branch structures that the initial chaos was eventually brought under control and food was provided to the fighting troops until the end of the struggle for the Polish capital. This, in turn, had a not insignificant impact on sustaining the high morale and fighting ability of individual units and subdivisions, as well as the civilian population encouraged by German propaganda to leave the city in exchange for - as the invaders put it - freedom and food.

Trends of architectural and planning structure of children's preschool institutions in modern conditions

In the conditions of a large-scale war in Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, the problem of protecting the population has become urgent. This problem is considered both in the context of housing and businesses that continue to operate. In order to improve the level of safety and comfort, it is important to evaluate the architectural and planning features of existing preschools, to determine the nomenclature of the necessary premises and the possibilities of their arrangement. At this stage, the question arises regarding their improvement and development in accordance with modern achievements of pedagogy, levels of safety and accessibility from the point of view of inclusion. The list of existing standards that can be operated by an architect during the design of preschool institutions is minimal and is supplemented every year with new standards that meet the needs of society. It is necessary not only to provide children with spaces for physical and psychological safety, but also to pay special attention to the filling and zoning of such spaces so that current realities do not prevent children from developing and learning safely. To solve such tasks, it is necessary to analyze the real state of preschool institutions and find directions for their renovation. The reform of preschool education in Ukraine includes a number of measures that will in some way affect the structure of kindergarten buildings in the future. A flexible system of preschool education provides for the creation of different groups in kindergartens: advisory, outing, seasonal, partial weekend, etc. Such a list of options for preschool training will consistently affect the selection of rooms in kindergartens. It will be appropriate to review the number of group cells, the location of the entrances to them, create a room with additional functions, and also take care of a barrier-free space. Examples of additional rooms: salt rooms, psychological relief rooms (sensory rooms), shelters and bomb shelters. Such initiatives contribute to the improvement of psychological well-being and preservation of children's nervous system, solve the issue of children's safety during their stay in kindergartens. In modern projects of preschool institutions, special rooms are already being created that were not relevant before, however, such innovations are rare and their arrangement does not yet have clear requirements. The relevance in the design of shelters, sensory and salt rooms cannot be doubted. The value of rehabilitation spaces in children's institutions grows every year and acquires a new meaning. The use of the additional facilities mentioned in the article allows children to be rehabilitated and to improve their sense of security, easy adaptation to the changes that are happening around them. Such proposals contribute to the preservation of the children's nervous system, which is an important factor in full-fledged development. An analysis of the planning solution of existing kindergartens confirms the need to implement a number of measures regarding their renovation, which are aimed at creating additional functional areas by reducing the number of group cells, replanning and arranging the basement floors, addressing opportunities for creating a barrier-free space on the territory for parents with inclusiveness. Also important are issues related to the solution of strengthening basement floors, equipment of additional ventilation ducts, review of vertical communications - stair-elevator units, evacuation stairs, arrangement of new premises within the existing structure, completion of additional floors.

Assessment of quality of life in patients with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity on a gluten-free diet before and during the war in Ukraine

the necessity of adhering to a gluten-free diet for individuals with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a significant factor affecting their well-being. They experience social, economic, and medical (due to the absence of alternative treatment methods) pressures. The aim of the study was to investigate and compare the quality of life and adherence to a gluten-free diet among patients with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity in Ukraine before and during full-scale invasion. The study included 24 adult participants, 15 with celiac disease and 9 with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Demographic data (age and gender) and clinical characteristics of patients, symptoms, and monitoring of IgA antibodies (tTG-IgA) to determine disease activity were collected at the time of enrollment in the study. All participants were asked to complete the Celiac Disease Quality of Life Measure (CD-QoL) questionnaire, which helps assess the impact of celiac disease and adherence to a gluten-free diet on a person's quality of life. Additionally, the quality of adherence to a gluten-free diet was assessed using the Biagi questionnaire. This study showed that patients with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity in Ukraine have a low quality of life on a gluten-free diet according to the CD-QoL questionnaire. The average total CD-QoL score was 68.54 ±2.5. In detail, the score for disphoria subscale was 15.7 ±0.5, the score for food restrictions subscale was 30.3 ±1.3, the score for health concern subscale was 17.3 ± 0.8, and the score for treatment ineffectiveness subscale was 5.3 ±0.4. There was no statistically significant difference observed in dependence between men and women, patients with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, patients older and younger than 35 years, patients with positive and negative tTG-IgA antibodies, migrants and non-migrants, and based on the duration of following a gluten-free diet (p>0.05). However, it is worth noting that there is a trend towards better quality of life in male patients compared to female subjects (p = 0.07, Table 2). Also, a trend towards higher CD-QoL scores was observed in patients younger than 35 years compared to those older than 35 years (p = 0.06) and in patients with positive tTG-IgA antibodies compared to those with negative tTG-IgA antibodies (p = 0.07). In our opinion, this difference could become significant with the involvement of a larger number of study subjects. When comparing the CD-QoL questionnaire results before the full-scale invasion in Ukraine and during the war, a significant decrease in the quality of life according to the CD-QoL scale during the conflict period was found (p=0.000001). Considering these results, we believe that the CD-QoL questionnaire should be used in clinical practice to assess the quality of life of patients with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This allows identifying factors that need to be addressed to improve adherence to a gluten-free diet and identifying aspects that require psychological support if necessary. The war has negatively affected the quality of life of patients with gluten-related disorders. In particular, we believe that patients over 35 years of age and patients who do not adhere well to a gluten-free diet require additional attention..
  

Seeking victim-centred accountability for violence against persons with disabilities at the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry for Ukraine

Abstract Persons with disabilities suffer disproportionately in every armed conflict, and Russia’s war in Ukraine is no exception. The atrocities committed against persons with disabilities in this conflict, however, are in part a consequence of the state’s longstanding policy of institutionalization, which heightens existing vulnerabilities and places persons with disabilities at an unacceptable risk of acute harm. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry for Ukraine must investigate the extensive and varied acts of violence that have been committed against persons with disabilities in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion, with a focus on persons with disabilities who are institutionalized. In recommending future action, the Commission must be driven by a victim-centred approach to accountability that contributes both to the criminal prosecutions of individual perpetrators, and to systemic reforms that contribute to the project of deinstitutionalization. This article can assist the Commission’s analysis by: (i) canvassing the reports of violence against persons with disabilities during the war in Ukraine, particularly those persons in institutions; (ii) reviewing the Commission for Ukraine’s mandate and explaining its primary purpose – that is, to ascertain the facts of the conflict, through an intersectional lens, with the aim of promoting accountability – with reference to the work done by United Nations commissions of inquiry in the past; and (iii) providing concrete examples on how the Commission’s investigations and report can further both legal accountability and systemic accountability for violence against persons with disabilities in Ukraine.

Novels of legislative regulation of ethno-national policy in independent Ukraine

The article highlights certain issues of ethno-national policy implementation in independent Ukraine.
 The issue of ethno-national policy continued to be one of the most important in the state policy of each state.
 State ethno-national policy in Ukraine is a complex process that requires proper state-political and legal (legislative) regulation of inter-ethnic relations.
 The authors researched the works of scientists regarding the legal regulation of ethno-national policy in modern Ukraine, as well as national legislation in the field of ethno-national policy.
 The purpose of the study is to carry out an analysis of the legislative regulation of ethno-national policy in independent Ukraine, paying special attention to the period of 2021 - the first half of 2023.
 Despite the war in Ukraine, the legislative regulation of ethno-national policy in the state is being updated.
 Certain steps have been taken regarding the development of national legislation in the field of ethno- national policy in Ukraine, in particular through the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine during 2021-2022 of the laws of Ukraine: “On indigenous peoples of Ukraine” and “On national minorities (communities) in Ukraine”.
 The state should, at the legislative level, provide for the basic principles of ethno-national policy in Ukraine by adopting a comprehensive legislative act.
 The adopted specialized act on ethno-national policy should contribute to effective state ethno-national and ethno-cultural policy, consolidation of the Ukrainian nation in general and harmonious development of national minorities and indigenous peoples, and will become a guarantee of civil peace in Ukrainian society. Characterizing the development of the legislative regulation of ethno-nationalism in Ukraine, the need for its further improvement is traced, in particular, through the implementation of the best legislative policies on ethno-nationalism of foreign countries.
 Further investigations regarding the legislative regulation of ethno-national policy in Ukraine may refer to a comparative legal analysis of the adopted legislative acts regarding the specified research topic.

АНАЛІЗ СТАНУ ТА ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЙ РОЗДРІБНОГО РИТЕЙЛУ: СВІТОВІ ТРЕНДИ ТА УКРАЇНСЬКИЙ СЕГМЕНТ

The article provides an analysis of the current state and transformations of the retail sector, particularly in the context of global trends and their impact on the Ukrainian segment. Retail undergoes significant transformations driven by both global trends and local challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have substantially influenced consumer behavior and market dynamics. The aim of the article is to investigate the current state and prospects of the retail sector's development considering global trends, the impact of the pandemic, and military aggression in Ukraine. Key aspects of changes in consumer demand, the evolution of retail store formats, and the influence of technological innovations and digital transformation on the retail market are explored. The author analyzes global trends and provides context for understanding their impact on the Ukrainian retail sector. The study also covers the prospects for development and opportunities for Ukrainian retail companies in the context of changes in the global economy. Retail is undergoing a period of transformations intensified by the pandemic and military aggression. Ukrainian retail faces numerous challenges but also has opportunities for adaptation and development. Retail adapts to changes in the world, and it is important to find a balance between sustainability, efficiency, digital technologies, and emotional connection with customers. The results of the analysis may be useful for managers and entrepreneurs interested in the retail business and its transformations both globally and locally.