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Journal of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine

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The anti-corruption component of national security assurance in Ukraine

Kateryna D. Yanishevska, Dmytro V. Murach

Received 23.01.2026, Revised 21.03.2026, Accepted 30.06.2026

Abstract

This article investigates the critical impact of corruption on Ukraine’s national security framework and establishes the inefficacy of existing legal mechanisms designed to combat it. Corruption practices are identified as the primary vulnerability of the aforementioned system, capable of compromising any sphere of national security. It is determined that the root cause of this predicament is the unique capacity of corruption to neutralize legal norms, particularly those explicitly aimed at its suppression. The author proposes an original conceptualization of the phenomenon of legal norm neutralization as a presuppositional error (contradiction) within the law-making process. The study reveals key presuppositional contradictions in anti-corruption policy norms. Specifically, it identifies the legislator’s disregard for the neurobiological heterogeneity of the population regarding self-control capacity–which, according to the General Theory of Crime, is a key predictor of propensity for corrupt behavior–during the development of recruitment standards for anti-corruption bodies and the generation of related norms defining the organizational and legal foundations of the current administrative-legal anti-corruption mechanism. Based on an analysis of relevant scientific literature, specific recommendations are provided to bridge the identified gaps. Emphasis is placed on the synergistic application of modern technological solutions, particularly artificial intelligence, for conducting multimodal psychological testing–incorporating neurophysiological markers–for candidates seeking public sector positions with elevated corruption risks. The paper proposes a classification of anti-corruption strategies based on a temporal criterion into three paradigms: Ex ante (preventive), In itinere (interventional), and Ex post (reactive). Within an axiological approach, the Ex ante paradigm is defined as the priority. The research establishes the dominance of the Ex post paradigm in the contemporary Ukrainian model of anti-corruption activity. This article is of value to scholars, legal practitioners, policymakers, and experts in anti-corruption policy, as it focuses on highlighting the latest scientific achievements and contemporary trends in methodologies for the determination and prevention of corruption.

Keywords:

corruption; national security of Ukraine; anti-corruption; presuppositional analysis of legal norms; neutralization of legal norms; corruption prevention

https://doi.org/10.31359/1993-0909.2026.33.2.184

Retrieved from Journal NALSU №2, 2026 year

Pages 184-205

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Suggested citation

Yanishevska, K.D., & Murach, D.V. (2026). The anti-corruption component of national security assurance in Ukraine. Journal of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, 33(2), 184-205. https://doi.org/10.31359/1993-0909.2026.33.2.184