THE IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive scientific and legal analysis of the impact of international security assistance on the functioning and transformation of Ukraine’s national security system under the conditions of the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation. It is substantiated that, in the current circumstances, international security assistance has ceased to be a merely auxiliary external factor and has acquired a system-forming significance, becoming integrated into the internal architecture of the state’s national security. It is demonstrated that international security assistance encompasses a wide range of measures, including the supply of modern weapons and military equipment, personnel training, intelligence sharing, financial support for the defense budget, as well as advisory support for reforms in the security and defense sector. The study proves that after 2022 the nature of such assistance underwent a qualitative transformation – from limited, predominantly defensive support to the systematic provision of heavy weaponry, high-technology systems, air defense assets, and the involvement of partner states in the long-term planning of Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Particular attention is devoted to the role of NATO and multilateral coordination mechanisms in the process of institutionalizing international security assistance, as well as to the impact of this assistance on security sector reform, the development of democratic civilian control, the enhancement of interoperability between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NATO structures, and the strengthening of good governance and anti-corruption safeguards. It is argued that international assistance has become a significant catalyst for the development of Ukraine’s domestic defense industry, contributing to the establishment of joint production mechanisms and the integration of Ukraine into global defense-industrial value chains. At the same time, the article analyzes the key risks associated with dependence on external security support, including the political conditionality of assistance, logistical and operational challenges, as well as psychological and information-propaganda threats. The conclusion is drawn that the effectiveness of international security assistance directly depends on Ukraine’s ability to transform it from a temporary compensatory resource into a factor of long-term self-sufficiency and resilience of the national security system.