INTRODUCTION

According to the Constitution of Ukraine, this is a sovereign, independent, democratic, social and legal State, and its highest social value is the human being, their life and health, honor and dignity, inviolability and security. However, today there are certain negative phenomena in Ukraine that interfere with the values proclaimed by the Constitution. One of the most important problems in Ukraine under modern conditions is the fight against terrorism.

The system of State response and control in the sphere of security in connection with the armed conflict in the East of Ukraine, the imperfection of the legal framework, and the lack of a balanced State policy in the social sphere, as well as the reduction of the spiritual and moral potential of society, are the main factors that contribute to the spread of terrorism.

Counter-terrorism subjects are involved when countering this extremely dangerous phenomenon, and improving the activity of these subjects involves not only improving their organizational structure in order to increase the mobility and flexibility of response to changes in the dynamics of terrorism, but also strengthening relations and interaction of the relevant departments involved in anti-terrorist activities.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The system of counter-terrorism subjects refers to a set of individuals or entities, defined at the level of legislation, that interact with each other in order to prevent, detect, stop and minimize consequences of terrorist activities. In order to reveal the essence of the system of counter-terrorism subjects in Ukraine, it is necessary to find the essence and place of each of them in this system (^{Bezpalova et al., 2021}).

The President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine occupy the leading places in the system of counter-terrorism subjects among the higher State authorities the country. However, it is worth noting that, for these subjects, the function of combating terrorism is not specific; but, without their participation, a comprehensive system of countering terrorism cannot exist.

In particular, the legal status of the President of Ukraine as a counter- terrorism subject is defined in article 103 of the Constitution of Ukraine, and article 106 defines areas of activity of the president of Ukraine as a counter- terrorism subject in Ukraine (Law of Ukraine, 1996). In the same way, the functions performed by the President of Ukraine in the fight against terrorism are presented in the regulation “On the procedure for the preparation and introduction of draft acts by the President of Ukraine”, approved by the President’s Decree dated November 15 of 2006 (^{Buha et al., 2022}). Within the limits of his competence, the President of Ukraine also issues orders regarding the regulatory and legal provision of countering terrorism in Ukraine and establishing the legal status of other subjects of this activity.

Based on the above, it is worth pointing out that the President of Ukraine, as a counter-terrorism subject in Ukraine, alongside with the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, implements functions of normative and legal regulation of the fight against terrorism. His powers also include establishment, liquidation, reorganization and management of specified counter-terrorism subjects.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is the next entity responsible for combating terrorism in Ukraine. In particular, article 75 of the Basic Law of Ukraine determines that the only body of legislative power in Ukraine is represented by the Parliament (or Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine), and article 85 of the Constitution of Ukraine defines directions of activity of this legislative body (Law of Ukraine, 1996). Alongside with this, it should be noted that the functioning of this counter-terrorism body is carried out through the adoption of relevant laws. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, as a counter-terrorism subject in Ukraine, directs its activities to the regulatory and legal support of this sphere, as well as on the creation, liquidation and reorganization of other subjects; this, by exercising control in this sphere.

In accordance with article 4 of the Law of Ukraine “On Combating Terrorism”, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, as the highest executive body, shall organize the fight against terrorism in Ukraine within its competence and provide it with the necessary forces, means and resources (Law of Ukraine, 2003). We should point out that, according to article 113 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is the highest body in the system of executive authorities (Law of Ukraine, 1996). Therefore, the key areas of activity of such cabinet, characterizing this highest body of executive power as a counter-terrorism subject in Ukraine, are defined in article 116 of the Constitution of Ukraine (Law of Ukraine, 1996) and article 19 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine”, dated February 27 of 2014 (Law of Ukraine, 2014).

Therefore, when implementing its functions in the fight against terrorism the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, these issues relevant normative legal acts; creates, liquidates and reorganizes relevant entities; and coordinates and controls their activities. This body also implements regulatory and legal support; monitors the implementation of legislative acts, in particular those related to the fight against terrorism; and performs functions to ensure the legality and to prevent illegal encroachments on the interests of people and the State.

At the same time, according to article 4 of the Law of Ukraine “On Combating Terrorism”, the specified counter-terrorism subjects (entities) form an integrated system consisting of two groups. The first group includes subjects (entities) that directly fight terrorism within the scope of their competence: the Security Service of Ukraine; the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine; the National Police; the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine; the central bodies of the executive power that ensure formation and implementation of State policy in the sphere of civil protection; the central body of the executive power, which implements the State policy in the sphere of protection of the State border; the central body of the executive power, which implements a State policy in the sphere of execution of criminal punishments; the State Security Office of Ukraine; and the central body of the executive power, which implements State tax policy in the sphere of State customs affairs (Kyrychenko et al., 2022).

The second group includes entities that, if necessary, are involved in the implementation of measures related to prevention, detection and termination of terrorist activities: the central body of the executive power, which implements State policy in the sphere of prevention and countermeasures against the legalization (laundering) of proceeds obtained through crime or financing of terrorism; the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine; the central bodies of executive power, which ensure the formation and implementation of State policy in the sphere of health care; and the central bodies of executive power, which ensure the formation and implementation of the State policy in the electric power, coal, industrial and oil and gas complexes. Additionally, there is the central body of executive power implementing State policy in the sphere of managing State-owned objects; the central bodies of executive power, which ensure the formation and implementation of the State policy in the spheres of transport; the central bodies of executive power ensuring formation and implementation of State financial policy; the central bodies of executive power, that ensure the formation and implementation of the State policy in the sphere of environmental protection; and the central bodies of executive power, that ensure the formation and implementation of the State agrarian policy (Leheza et al., 2022).

Other central and local bodies of executive power, local self- government bodies, enterprises, institutions, organizations regardless of subordination and forms of ownership, their officials, as well as citizens may, with their consent, be involved in anti-terrorist operations by decision of the management of the anti-terrorist operation in compliance with the requirements of this law (Law of Ukraine, 2003). It is worth noting that the successful provision of countering terrorism in Ukraine requires a joint participation of State structures, counter-terrorism subjects, and civil society in this activity. In this regard, it is important to establish a flexible constructive interaction of State bodies with public institutions, as well as mass media, for the purpose of carrying out coordinated activities to prevent crimes and help to eliminate threats to the safety of a person, society and the State (^{Horbalinskiy et al., 2023}).

In the context of the investigated issue, it should be noted that the main body in the national system of combating and countering terrorism is represented by the Security Service of Ukraine. In accordance with the Law of Ukraine, “On the Security Service of Ukraine”, this is a special State law enforcement agency that ensures the State security of Ukraine (Law of Ukraine, 1992). Under this service, there is the Anti-Terrorist Center (ATC), which, in accordance with part 7 of article 4 of the Law of Ukraine “On Combating Terrorism”, and article 1 of the regulation “On the Anti-Terrorist Center and its Coordination Groups at the Regional Bodies of the Security Service of Ukraine”, approved by the President’s Decree No. 379/99, dated April 14 of 1999, it is a permanent body under the Security Service of Ukraine, which coordinates activities of counter-terrorism subjects (entities) to prevent terrorist acts against government officials, critical infrastructure objects of life support for the population, objects of increased danger, and acts that threaten the life and health of a significant number of people.

Also, according to part 7 of the specified regulation, the center is structurally composed of the Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) and its headquarters, as well as some coordination groups and their headquarters, created under the regional bodies of the Security Service of Ukraine. In accordance with clause 8, the center is headed by a manager who is appointed from among the first deputies of the Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine and is relieved of his duties by the President of Ukraine (Odyntsova et al., 2021).

In its activities, the center accumulates and analyzes information, which makes it possible to determine the strategy and tactics of combating terrorism within the State and at the international level. Professional training of special forces and means included in the ATC from specified ministries and departments is carried out on a single methodical base (within the competence defined by the Constitution and laws of Ukraine) (^{Tylchyk et al., 2022}).

Therefore, for the purposeful performance of the specified tasks (clause 5 of the regulation), the center has the appropriate powers primarily relating to coordination and organization of preparation and implementation of measures intended to stop terrorist manifestations. It is also related to actions performed by units and forces involved in implementation of these measures, and the provision of methodical assistance and recommendations to counter-terrorism subjects to identify and eliminate causes and conditions that contribute to the commitment of terrorist acts and other crimes that have a terrorist purpose. The center also develops proposals concerning improvement of legislative and other normative legal acts, and it participates in the preparation of the draft international treaties of Ukraine in the sphere of combating terrorism (^{Zadyraka et al., 2023}).

According to clause 9 of the regulation, and part 3 of article 7 of the Law of Ukraine "On Combating Terrorism", the composition of the center's ICC is determined. In the course of its activity, the ICC as a collegial advisory body of the ATC coordinates conceptual foundations and projects of anti-terrorism programs, recommendations on the functioning of the general national system to combat terrorism, joint projects of ministries and agencies aimed at preventing and stopping terrorist crimes and plans of regional coordination groups. This institution also organizes and conducts anti-terrorist operations, command-staff exercises and special tactical training exercises (^{Matviichuk et al., 2022}).

On the other hand, the headquarters of the ATC are considered the executive working body of the center, which carries out current organizational work to fulfill the tasks assigned to the ATC. In particular, the headquarters developed proposals for the current Law of Ukraine “On Combating Terrorism”, as well as a number of decrees, orders of the President of Ukraine, and government resolutions in the sphere of combating terrorism. An information and analytical group functions as part of the headquarters to analyze current risks and threats in the sphere of combating

terrorism, and representatives of counter-terrorism subjects (entities) can be involved in the work on a voluntary basis in accordance with the established procedure (^{Zhukova et al., 2023}).

Likewise, the composition of the coordination groups at the regional bodies of the Security Service of Ukraine and the organizational support for their activities is determined in accordance with article 7 of the Law of Ukraine “On Combating Terrorism” (Law of Ukraine, 2003), the regulation on the ATC and its coordination groups at the regional bodies of the Security Service of Ukraine, and provisions on the unified State system of prevention, response and termination of terrorist acts and minimization of their consequences.

Moreover, regional coordination groups have the following functions: collecting, generalizing, analyzing and evaluating information about the State and trends of the spread of terrorism in the region; developing recommendations aimed at improving the national system of combating terrorism; creating preventive anti-terrorist plans regarding probable objects of terrorist tendencies; carrying out anti-terrorist operations; performing education and training; and coordinating activities of representatives of counter-terrorism entities in the region (^{Leheza et al., 2023}).

In addition, military-civilian administrations can be created, and they can operate as part of the ATC under the Security Service of Ukraine. These last are temporary State bodies appointed to ensure the activity of the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, as well as to ensure the safety and normalization of the population’s life, law and order, and their participation in countering acts of sabotage and terrorist acts. The aforementioned, in order to prevent a humanitarian disaster in the area of performing anti- terrorist operations (^{Villasmil et al., 2022}).

However, it is worth noting that, until now, there has not been sufficiently effective coordinated cooperation of State authorities (in particular, counter-terrorism subjects) with public and other institutions of civil society, and this has a negative effect on the process of creating additional conditions and opportunities for the accumulation of both State and social organizational and intellectual potential in the sphere of countering terrorism (^{Kobrusieva et al., 2021}). Productive interaction of State bodies and the public would contribute, on the one hand, to the strengthening of guarantees of compliance with the law, the rights and freedom of citizens in the context of advancing Ukraine along the path of European integration; and, on the other hand, it would contribute to the implementation of innovative projects for the public prevention of terrorism and extremism, and to the establishment of civil control over the national security system.

VI. CONCLUSIONS

Thus, we can establish that the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine are the key actors when countering terrorism in Ukraine in the system of higher authorities. The defining areas of activity of the President of Ukraine in the sphere of countering terrorism are those aimed at the regulatory and legal support of countering terrorism in Ukraine creation, liquidation, reorganization and management of the relevant counter-terrorism subjects. Likewise, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, as a counter-terrorism subject, implements functions related to the regulatory and legal support of the fight against terrorism in Ukraine, regarding the creation, liquidation, reorganization of relevant counter-terrorism subjects (entities), as well as regarding control over their activities.

For the purpose of countering terrorism in Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine creates, liquidates and reorganizes the relevant counter-terrorism subjects (entities), and also coordinates, controls and manages their activities. It also carries out regulatory and legal support, and the inspection of the implementation of legislative acts, in particular those related to the fight against terrorism. Finally, this entity directs activities to ensure legality and prevent illegal encroachments on the interests of people and the State.

In the same way, the ATC under the Security Service of Ukraine implements the national anti-terrorist policy and interdepartmental tasks for organization and coordination of the fight against terrorism, mainly through functionally oriented members of the ICC. Likewise, there are some coordination groups functioning under regional bodies of the Security Service of Ukraine. Therefore, a system of legal norms has been developed, and this system regulates activities of the named institutes at the domestic and international levels.

In their activities, counter-terrorism subjects are primarily guided by those normative legal acts that determine their place in the system of executive authorities. Their professional activity is aimed at counteracting the relevant terrorist manifestations: identifying and stopping terrorist acts, detaining and arresting persons who have committed such acts, bringing them to administrative or criminal liability, indemnifying the victims, etc.

It is also worth noting that combating modern terrorism requires a systematic approach, where, along with a complex of State and legal measures, an active activity of civil institutions of our society should be an important component. In connection with this, there is a need to consolidate various public currents in order to support the global strategy for combating terrorism and to create a multi-functional and multi-level system for combating this phenomenon. This system should combine the optimal use of the intellectual potential of the nation, the universal human factor of the State, and the mobilization of this factor in order to solve issues and combat terrorism.

Considering the above, we note that the anti-terrorist system of Ukraine is equipped with flexible and operational use of forces and means, as well as a normatively justified scheme for managing anti-terrorist measures. However, in our opinion, it is advisable to direct its further improvement to a) the optimization of activities performed by regional coordination groups of the ATC at the Security Service of Ukraine, whose competence covers the tasks and functions of combating terrorism in the direction of strengthening their organizational and management component;

b) the improvement of qualifications of representatives for counter-terrorism subjects in the areas of activity to also improve the resource and personnel support; c) the development and approval of the State program on promotion and development of the interaction between counter-terrorism subjects (entities) and the civil society; and d) the determination at the legislative level of the procedure for the participation of public organizations in combating terrorism.