PUBLIC SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF ARMED CONFLICT: DIGITALIZATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE LEGAL REGULATION

Abstract

This article deals with a comprehensive administrative and legal analysis of the system for providing public services to victims of armed conflict in Ukraine amid ongoing digitalization. The relevance of the study stems from the massive humanitarian consequences of the armed conflict that intensified in February 2022, which revealed the institutional unpreparedness of the public administration system to effectively respond to the urgent needs of the affected population. The paper identifies conceptual approaches to understanding the concept of «victim of armed conflict» and highlights the fragmentary nature of its regulatory enshrinement in Ukrainian legislation. However, it is determined that the absence of a single definition is compensated for by a system of differentiated legal statuses. The structure of the public services system is examined, including its main components, the range of authorized entities, and the legal foundations of their operation. Particular attention is paid to the impact of digitalization on the transformation of administrative procedures. The study analyzes the role of e-services, government registries, and digital platforms as tools that are changing the model of interaction between individuals and the state – from physical presence to remote access. At the same time, it is argued that digital tools primarily serve as access channels, while legally significant decisions remain within the purview of public authorities. The study identifies key challenges of digitalization in this area, including unequal access to digital services for vulnerable groups, the dependence of rights enforcement on the accuracy of data in state registries, regulatory gaps in the oversight of digital procedures, and insufficient clarity regarding liability for automated decision-making. Separate emphasis is placed on the issue of coordination between national institutions and international organizations. Thus, the paper identifies areas for improving administrative and legal regulation, in particular by developing a comprehensive approach to determining the status of victims of armed conflict, codifying digital administrative procedures, ensuring alternative (non-digital) channels of access to services, and enhancing the reliability and consistency of state registries. Prospects for further research have been outlined, focusing on the analysis of the legal nature of automated administrative decisions, accountability mechanisms in the field of digital governance, and the integration of national and international service delivery systems in the context of armed conflict.