VinFunPark
VinFunPark
ISSN 2617-4162 e-ISSN 2617-4170

Social and Legal Studios

Current

Social and Legal Studios

Vol. 9, No. 1, 2026

Social and Legal Studios

ISSN 2617-4162

e-ISSN 2617-4170

Publisher: Lviv State University of Internal Affairs

Received 18.05.2025, Revised 29.08.2025, Accepted 06.10.2025
Article

Protection of mineral resources under martial law: Problems of administrative-legal and criminal-legal support


Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify and analyse key administrative and criminal problems in the field of subsoil protection under martial law, and to develop proposals for reducing the level of offences and combating corruption. The methodology covered an integrated approach, including analysis of current legislation, processing of official statistics and expert surveys. The main factors affecting the effectiveness of law enforcement and control over the use of subsoil resources were identified, gaps in the regulatory framework were identified, and the effectiveness of existing tools for combating violations was assessed. The study involved 15 experts: lawyers, representatives of law enforcement agencies and specialists in the field of public administration. The results show that the situation with subsurface protection has progressively become more complicated: the criticality indicators of individual problems have increased from “significant” to critical. The most important areas of improvement were the creation of transparent administrative and legal procedures and effective counteraction to corruption groups. The change in the configuration of threats is characterised: from mostly moderate manifestations to a combination of significant and critical conditions, which are aggravated by complementary control failures. The actual scale of law enforcement has been established. The proposed recommendations are aimed at strengthening control, updating the regulatory framework, and introducing electronic tools for recording the activities of subsurface users. The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that its results can become the basis for making managerial decisions aimed at ensuring legality and transparency in the use of natural resources even during a difficult period of martial law


Keywords: protection of mineral resources; martial law; administrative and legal problems; criminal and legal problems; corruption; paired comparisons; regulatory framework


Suggested citation

Strotskyy, R., Parasiuk, N., Оnyshko, O., Fedina, N., & Syimovskyi, R. (2025). Protection of mineral resources under martial law: Problems of administrative-legal and criminal-legal support. Social and Legal Studios, 8(3), 49-58. https://doi.org/10.32518/sals3.2025.49
References
  1. Alazzam, F.A.F., & Alshunnaq, M.F.N. (2023). Formation of creative thinking of a lawyer in modern conditions of development including the influence of COVID-19 pandemic. Creativity Studies, 16(1), 315-327. doi: 10.3846/cs.2023.16117.
  2. Alkema, V., Hryhoruk, P., Skhidnytska, H., & Sylkin, O. (2024). Resilience and strategic management: Ways to ensure economic and social security of Ukrainian enterprises during long-term warfare. Clio. Journal of History, Human Sciences and Critical Thought, 9, 740-767. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.14567108.
  3. Bani-Meqdad, M.A.M., Senyk, P., Udod, M., Pylypenko, T., & Sylkin, O. (2024). Cyber-environment in the human rights system: Modern challenges to protect intellectual property law and ensure sustainable development of the region. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 19(4), 1389-1396. doi: 10.18280/ijsdp.190416.
  4. Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. (1996, October). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/80731-10#Text.
  5. Code of Ukraine on Subsoil. (1994, July). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/132/94-%D0%B2%D1%80#Text.
  6. Constitution of Ukraine. (1996, June). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/254%D0%BA/96-%D0%B2%D1%80#Text.
  7. Criminal Code of Ukraine. (2001, April). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2341-14.
  8. Dudorov, O.O., & Movchan, R.O. (2020). About directions of improvement of the mechanism of criminal and legal protection of environment (to attention of developers of the new Criminal code of Ukraine). Bulletin of the Association of Criminal Law of Ukraine, 1, 92-125. doi: 10.21564/2311-9640.2020.13.204733.
  9. Golovkin, B., & Marysyuk, K. (2019). Foreign experience in countering (preventing) organized crime in the financial system: Special law enforcement bodies and strategic priorities. Baltic Journal of Economic Studies, 5(3), 25-36. doi: 10.30525/2256-0742/2019-5-3-25-36.
  10. Gupta, A.K. (2024). Breaking rocks, breaking laws: Indiaʼs battle against illegal stone mining. GLS Law Journal, 6(2), 36-46. doi: 10.69974/glslawjournal.v6i2.135.
  11. International Chamber of Commerce, & ESOMAR. (2025). ICC/ESOMAR International Code on market, opinion and social research and data analytics. Retrieved from https://iccwbo.org/news-publications/policies-reports/iccesomar-international-code-market-opinion-social-research-data-analytics/#top.
  12. Kryshtanovych, M., Dragan, I., Grytsyshen, D., Sergiienko, L., & Baranovska, T. (2022a). The public and environmental aspect of restoring sustainable regional development in the face of the negative impact of military actions on the territory of the country. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 17(5), 1645-1651. doi: 10.18280/ijsdp.170530.
  13. Kryshtanovych, M., Topalova, E., Tokhtarova, I., Pirozhenko, N., & Pronina, O. (2022b). Definition the determinants of influence on the engineering sector and the system of its legal regulation. International Journal of Safety and Security Engineering, 12(6), 699-706. doi: 10.18280/ijsse.120605.
  14. Law of Ukraine No. 2805-IX “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Improving Legislation in the Field of Subsoil Use”. (2022, December). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2805-20#Text.
  15. Legal amber mining in Rivne region up 15 times in three years. (2025). Retrieved from  https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/3683038-legal-amber-mining-in-rivne-region-up-15-times-in-three-years.html?utm.
  16. Leonova, O. (2025). Regulatory and legal support for state personnel policy in the field of subsoil use and protection. Baltic Journal of Legal and Social Sciences, 2, 59-63. doi: 10.30525/2592-8813-2025-2-7.
  17. Lysiak, O.I. (2021). Legal analysis of issues related to subsoil use in Ukraine. Collection of Scientific Works of H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University Pravo, 33, 46-51. doi: 10.34142/23121661.2021.33.06.
  18. Makovicka, D., & Makovicka, D. (2014). Structure isolation in order to reduce vibration transfer from the subsoil. International Journal of Computational Methods and Experimental Measurements, 2(1). doi: 10.2495/CMEM-V2-N1-1-13.
  19. Mostepanjuk, L.O., & Pavlovsjka, A.A. (2020). Analysis of the corpus delicti provided for in Article 240-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Bulletin of the Penitentiary Association of Ukraine, 2, 126-133. doi: 10.34015/2523-4552.2020.2.12.
  20. Movchan, R.O. (2020). Criminal law counteraction to amber offenses: Analysis of the latest legislative novels. Scientific Journal of the National Academy of Internal Affairs, 4, 53-60. doi: 10.33270/01201174.53.
  21. Neto, C.F., et al. (2024) Uncontrolled Illegal Mining and Garimpo in the Brazilian Amazon. Nature Communications, 15, article number 9847. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-54220-2.
  22. Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. (2024). Counteracting crimes in the field of environmental protection. Results of the work of the Specialised Environmental Prosecutorʼs Office. Retrieved from https://gp.gov.ua/ua/posts/protidiya-zlocinam-v-sferi-oxoroni-navkolisnyogo-prirodnogo-seredovishha-rezultati-roboti-specializovanoyi-ekologicnoyi-prokuraturi.
  23. Panov, M.I., Kharytonov, S.O., & Haltsova, V.V. (2021). Object of criminal offense: Modern interpretations. Journal of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, 28(4), 262-269. doi: 10.37635/jnalsu.28(4).2021.262-269.
  24. Specialised Environmental Prosecutor’s Office of the Prosecutor General’s Office. (2023). Subsoil as an object of criminal encroachment: Based on the experience of the specialized environmental prosecutor’s office. Retrieved from https://ukraine-oss.com/nadra-yak-obyekt-zlochynnyh-posyagan-za-dosvidom-roboty-speczializovanoyi-ekologichnoyi-prokuratury/.
  25. Stelmakh, M.V. (2017). The problem of qualification of illegal mining of minerals of local importanceYoung Scientist, 12, 323-327.
  26. Turlova, Yu.A., & Polischuk, H.S. (2020). Certain topical issues of criminalization of illegal amber mining. Naukovyi Visnyk Natsionalnoho Hirnychoho Universytetu, 5, 122-129. doi: 10.33271/nvngu/2020-­5/122.
  27. UK Defence Ministry. (2024). UK intel: Russia steals Ukraineʼs mineral resources in occupied areas. Euromaidan Press. Retrieved from https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/07/04/uk-intel-russia-steals-ukraines-mineral-resources-in-occupied-areas/.
  28. Unified State Register of Court Decisions. (2025). Retrieved from https://reyestr.court.gov.ua/.
  29. Zdorovylo, I.V. (2019). The state of crime in the field of illegal mining in Ukraine. Bulletin of Lugansk State University of Internal Affairs named after E.A. Didorenko, 3, 256-258. doi: 10.33766/2524-0323.87.268-280.