Features of investigating cybercrimes committed in a military environment

The article examines the peculiarities of investigating cybercrimes committed in a military environment. It emphasizes the threat of criminal activity in the military cyberspace as a major factor negatively impacting critical information infrastructure, particularly state governance systems, essential services, energy, transportation, nuclear and chemical industries, and the banking sector. The article identifies and analyzes factors that complicate the pre-trial investigation process, including limited capabilities for documenting the scene of the cybercrime and the evidence collected, the risk to the personal safety of investigators and law enforcement representatives during investigative activities in areas of active hostilities, the presence of a specialized entity committing the criminal offense, and potential resistance from military unit commanders in cases of improper execution of their duties that facilitated the commission of the crime by their subordinates. Special attention is given to finding solutions to these problematic issues, resulting in the formulation of proposals aimed at improving the quality of investigations into criminal offenses in military settings committed in cyberspace. The article outlines the prospects for further research in this area, which include the continued development of methodologies and standards for conducting investigative activities considering the specifics of military cyberspace, forecasting the implications of implementing international practices, particularly from NATO member countries, into domestic forensic technologies, as well as enhancing technological innovations to improve the quality of investigations into criminal offenses in military environments committed in cyberspace.