FEATURES OF THE EXERCISE OF THE POWERS OF THE NATIONAL POLICE OF UKRAINE IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE NEW RULES FOR THE USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT

The article examines current issues in effectively countering the illegal use of unmanned aerial vehicles in Ukraine. The author focuses on the revolutionary changes introduced by the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Law Enforcement Agencies and Countering Their Illegal Use,” which creates a legal basis for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, clarifies terminology, expands the powers of law enforcement agencies, and introduces mechanisms for neutralizing threats associated with the illegal operation of drones. The key innovations of the law are considered, in particular, the introduction of the concepts of “remote pilot” and “unmanned aviation system,” and the definition of the limits of liability of unmanned aerial vehicle operators. It is noted that the implementation of the provisions of the law faces a number of problems, including: the lack of by-laws detailing the procedures for applying the norms, the lack of special technical means to counteract the illegal use of unmanned aircraft, insufficient training of police officers to perform new tasks, as well as the inconsistency of the provisions of the law with the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. The need to create specialized police units authorized to counteract the illegal operation of unmanned aircraft is emphasized, as well as the expansion of training programs for police officers. It is concluded that modern changes in legislation significantly increase the effectiveness of airspace regulation, but require improvement to fully realize their potential.