Some legal principles of understanding energy security

The article focuses on the analysis of the legal category of energy security in Ukrainian legislation. Given the constant fluctuations in the world energy market and external threats, Ukraine is forced to look for ways to guarantee reliable and stable supplies of energy resources, develop its own energy sources and implement effective energy saving strategies. It is proven that the concept of energy security in Ukrainian legislation is, on the one hand, extremely broad and multifaceted, and on the other hand, it is not clearly reflected in regulatory legal acts. The issue of energy security is gaining critical importance in the modern geopolitical and economic context, especially in conditions of full-scale war. Energy security is recognized as a fundamental element of national security, as it directly affects the stability of the country, its economic development and the well-being of citizens. In some cases, the term «energy security» is used in legislation in a descriptive context, as a key goal of reforms. However, the Constitution of Ukraine, the laws of Ukraine and other regulatory acts do not contain an exhaustive definition of the concept of «energy security». The author proposes an algorithm of legal argumentation for a clear and precise definition of the term «energy security» in Ukrainian legislation. It is proved that a clear definition of «energy security» in specialized laws will contribute to the formation of a more specific and understandable legal framework for its provision. As a result, this will improve the understanding of the obligations of the state, private enterprises and citizens in the field of energy resources and infrastructure protection, in particular, it will help to distinguish crimes in the field of energy security in criminal law, and to accurately determine which articles can be applied in qualification. Also, since energy security is part of national security, its clear legal definition in the legislation of Ukraine will provide additional guarantees of the stable functioning of the state, which will help to coordinate the actions of the government to protect energy resources and increase resilience to internal and external threats.