Criminal Intelligence as a Promising Tool for Combating Threats to Ukraine’s National Security Posed by Organized Crime

The aim of this article is to elucidate the essence of the institute of criminal intelligence within Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies and special services, examining its conceptual-legal, organizational-functional and tactical-special components in a unified manner. The authors analyze the development of the structures and regulatory framework of criminal intelligence agencies in Ukraine since 1991 and within the context of the national law enforcement system reform. They also critically evaluate the creation and primary models of criminal intelligence of the leading countries worldwide, highlighting aspects that are suitable for implementation in Ukraine. The analysis reveals the characteristic features of the organization and destructive activities of organized criminal groups, identifying them as a key threat to Ukraine’s national and state security in the context of globalization and martial law. This underscores the heightened necessity for conducting intelligence and information-collecting activities within these groups. The discussion focuses on the specific tasks of criminal intelligence in safeguarding Ukraine’s military formations during the Counter-Terrorist Operation (also known as ATO) and Joint Forces Operation (JFO) as well as full-scale hostilities. The study examines the leading trends and methods of criminal intelligence analysis, including innovative developments related to the use of OSINT and advanced analytical intelligence methods. The authors propose areas for further research on intelligence support for combating organized crime as well as recommendations for improving the training of specialized personnel. The article considers forward-looking proposals from Ukrainian scientists and practicing law enforcement officers aimed at improving intelligence support in the fight against organized criminal groups. In particular, it explores the modernization of national legislation in the field of investigative activities; the enhancement of forms and methods within the agent-operative component of criminal intelligence, and its tactical and psychological foundations. It also discusses improving the informational aspect of operational activities to prevent organized crime in Ukraine’s military formations. Additionally, it addresses the specific aspects of conducting intelligence within ethnic and violent criminal groups as well as the advancement of OSINT methods and analytical intelligence techniques.