RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR'S GEOPOLITICAL CONSEQUENCES FOR EASTERN EUROPE

The article examines the geopolitical and socio-economic consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war for the countries of Eastern Europe in the period 2022–2024. The relevance of the topic is due to the scale of the conflict's impact on regional stability, economic security and the social sphere of countries bordering the combat zone. The study was based on a systematic analysis of analytical documents of international organizations, strategic plans of the European Union and official statistical reports. The methods of content analysis and secondary analysis of statistical information were used to process the data. The results of the study showed a significant decline in GDP, rising inflation, rising unemployment and poverty, especially in Ukraine and its closest neighbors - Poland, Romania and Moldova. Migration flows had a significant impact: more than 7 million Ukrainian refugees put a strain on the social systems of host countries, which was accompanied by an increase in spending on health care and education. It was found that geopolitical changes led to increased security cooperation within NATO, a reorientation of trade flows and energy diversification in order to reduce dependence on Russian energy carriers. The article emphasizes the importance of the European Union's strategic adaptation to new challenges through the implementation of energy security mechanisms, strengthening regional cooperation and deepening integration processes with the Eastern Partnership countries. Prospects for further research lie in the development of new approaches to monitoring long-term geopolitical changes, taking into account modern economic trends and global security challenges.