State regulation of artificial intelligence use in ukraine’s defense sector: current state, challenges, and directions for improvement

<jats:p>The article examines the current state of governmental regulation of artificial intelligence technologies in Ukraine’s defense sector. It is established that, amid full-scale armed aggression, artificial intelligence is becoming a strategic resource for strengthening the country’s defense capabilities. Its applications include big data analysis, intelligence, command and control, unmanned and autonomous systems, cyber defense, combat-environment modeling, defense logistics, threat forecasting, and decision-making support. The legislative and strategic documents governing Ukraine’s security and defense sector, as well as the development of artificial intelligence technologies, are analyzed. It is determined that the existing legal framework remains predominantly general, fragmented, and reactive, while the practical implementation of AI technologies is advancing faster than the development of the corresponding legal and institutional mechanisms. Insufficient regulation has been identified regarding the use of autonomous systems, permissible limits of AI deployment, human oversight, risk assessment, and responsibility for decisions made with the assistance of algorithmic systems. The need to establish a comprehensive model of governmental regulation that combines legal, institutional, organizational, personnel, and resource mechanisms is well-substantiated. The article proposes introducing a risk-based approach, clearly allocating powers among public authorities, strengthening interagency coordination, establishing procedures for testing and evaluating AI systems, ensuring meaningful human oversight, and defining responsibility for the consequences of their use. Particular emphasis is placed on maintaining a balance between the rapid implementation of defense innovations and compliance with the principles of legality, accountability, security, and human rights protection. Keywords: governmental regulation, artificial intelligence, defense sector, national defense capability, national security, security and defense sector, public policy, legal regulation, autonomous systems, human oversight, technological risks, risk-based approach, public administration.</jats:p>