Professional responsibility of servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine: legal and ethical aspects

The article presents a deep and multifaceted study of the professional responsibility of servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine in the context of modern socio-political challenges, in particular, full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine, reforms in the security sector and the state’s European integration aspirations. Professional responsibility is considered as a complex integral category that encompasses not only legal requirements, but also moral and ethical, social, psychological and managerial aspects, forming the basis of the professional culture of a serviceman. The key forms of legal liability (disciplinary, administrative, criminal, material) that operate in a strict system of command subordination are highlighted. The importance of respecting human rights and international humanitarian law, which provides for a humane attitude even towards the enemy, is emphasized as a marker of the moral maturity of the army. The ethical aspect is considered as an internal imperative of the individual, manifested in loyalty to the Oath, respect for human dignity, solidarity, patriotism, honesty, justice. The idea is developing that in the conditions of modern war, moral responsibility is sometimes the only guideline in situations not regulated by law. Special attention is paid to the social responsibility of a military serviceman, as the ability to bear responsibility not only for his direct official actions, but also for the consequences for society, the environment, and the citizens with whom he interacts. The author proposes to form such responsibility in the process of humanitarian training of military personnel - through the introduction of courses in military ethics, international law, the psychology of responsibility, as well as mentoring and chaplaincy institutes. The conclusions summarize that the professional responsibility of the servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine should become the basis for the formation of a new culture of military service, focused on respect for human rights, the rule of law, moral maturity and social justice. In the context of hybrid threats and security sector reform, such responsibility appears not only as an individual virtue, but as a fundamental component of national security, citizens’ trust in the state and the international authority of Ukraine.