Modern trends in the development of terrorism as a socio-legal phenomenon

The study demonstrates the results of generalizing the definitions of the concept of “terrorism”, which are enshrined in international law and national legislation; determines the factors that influence its formation and spread; and also contains proposals for improving the legislation of Ukraine to solve problems that arise in the activities of law enforcement agencies to minimize the existence of this negative phenomenon in modern society. The study was carried out on the basis of a systematic analysis of international legal acts and the legislation of Ukraine on the fight against terrorism, research by scientists, analytical materials, and judicial practice. Other methods and approaches were also used, in particular: logical-semantic (to analyze the very content of the concept of “terrorism”), phenomenological (to distinguish the characteristics of terrorism as a social phenomenon), comparativist (to compare foreign experience in counteracting terrorism with Ukrainian realities), hermeneutic (for an adequate interpretation of the political and legal context of manifestations of terrorism), dogmatic (or formal-logical – to identify gaps in Ukrainian legislation), pragmatic methods (to prove the expediency and usefulness of the proposed provisions). It has been proved that various manifestations of terrorism are openly demonstrated in Ukraine, which the Russian Federation commits after a full-scale invasion of the territory of a sovereign, independent, democratic, legal state. And this forces the Ukrainian legislator to respond promptly. In particular, a regulatory definition of “terrorist organization” and “organized terrorist group” is needed; it is necessary to create a Register of terrorist organizations; it is necessary to revise the powers of special entities for combating terrorism, and in the conditions of an armed conflict to expand their powers. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of recognizing the Russian Federation as a state-sponsor of terrorism, which will lead to the revision of international legal acts on counteracting this socio-legal phenomenon and will contribute to its regulatory settlement.