This study explores the dynamics of interagency cooperation between law enforcement and other governmental bodies in Ukraine in combating criminal offences targeting critical infrastructure (CI). The research aims to assess how such cooperation influences crime prevention and rapid response efficiency, explicitly focusing on legal, procedural, and institutional dimensions. Employing a multidisciplinary methodology, the study integrates content analysis, network analysis, simulation modelling, and semi-structured interviews with 150 stakeholders, including police officers, infrastructure managers, and cybersecurity experts. The findings reveal systemic barriers such as bureaucratic delays, ineffective communication protocols, and uneven distribution of technological resources, particularly in rural areas. These issues significantly hinder timely responses to cyberattacks and physical sabotage. However, examples of successful cooperation—characterized by shared databases, unified emergency protocols, and coordinated joint operations—demonstrate the potential for improved interagency collaboration. Network and statistical analysis confirm that coordination efficiency is crucial in reducing response times and minimizing damage. The study underscores the necessity of legal reforms and the adoption of innovative technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and real-time monitoring systems, to enhance interdepartmental coordination. It also highlights the importance of international collaboration and harmonizing local policies with global cybersecurity and criminal law standards. Recommendations include creating specialized task forces, improving legal frameworks, enhancing training programs, and launching public engagement campaigns to strengthen trust and collective resilience. The research findings contribute to understanding how institutional synergy can increase national resilience to criminal threats and offer a roadmap for scaling such practices in similar geopolitical contexts. Future research should focus on empirically validating suggested frameworks and developing AI-integrated coordination models adapted to regional needs.
Koteliukh et al. (Sat,) studied this question.