Features of the development and implementation of imperial emergency legislation in the territory of Right-Bank Ukraine during the first World War (1914–1917)

The purpose of this article is to analyze both pre-existing and newly adopted regulatory legal acts (laws, regulations, resolutions, orders) governing socio-political and socio-economic life in the provinces of Right-Bank Ukraine, taking into account their frontline status during the First World War. The methodological foundation of the study is based on the principles of historicism, systematization, comprehensiveness, as well as the problem-chronological and diachronic methods. The scientific novelty of the publication lies in the comprehensive and detailed analysis of legal and regulatory documents issued by representatives of the imperial civil and military authorities on the eve of and during the First World War, which were in force in the provinces of Right-Bank Ukraine and regulated all spheres of public life. Conclusions. The imposition of martial law in Right-Bank Ukraine meant that full authority in the region was transferred to the military command, and civil rights and freedoms were significantly restricted. At the same time, liability for legal violations increased. To gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon, it is essential to examine legislative practices and the mechanisms of their implementation within the specified region. The challenges faced by the military and civil authorities of Right-Bank Ukraine required urgent and meticulous planning and legal regulation. A distinctive feature of legal governance in the region during wartime was the combination of nationwide legal acts — such as the rules “On Localities Declared Under Martial Law,” the law “On Meeting the Needs of Refugees,” the “Guidelines for the Arrangement of Refugees,” the “Temporary Regulation on Military Censorship,” and the “List of Information and Images Concerning the External Security of Russia and Its Naval and Ground Defense, the Publication and Dissemination of Which in the Press, Speeches, or Public Meetings Is Prohibited” — with numerous orders and directives from military and local civil authorities, due to the region's frontline status. These regulations encompassed all spheres of public life and affected various categories of the population.