Transformation of the System of Public Power Under Martial Law within the Context of Political Regime Hybridization in Ukraine

Abstract

The article offers a comprehensive scholarly inquiry into the profound transformation of Ukraine’s public authority architecture under the conditions of full-scale armed aggression, examined specifically through the conceptual framework of the institutional hybridization of the political regime. The authors meticulously analyze the dynamic transition from a decentralized, democratic governance model toward a rigid military-administrative vertical, a shift necessitated by the existential imperative for rapid strategic decision-making, national resource mobilization, and the preservation of state sovereignty. At the center of this research is the critical examination of the legal status and operational activities of military administrations. These entities are identified as the pivotal instrument for maintaining state resilience during a period of national emergency, effectively merging military command with civilian administrative techniques.

To provide a more nuanced understanding, the study elaborates on the systemic risks inherent in such a significant concentration of power. This includes an in-depth analysis of the administrative friction between military administrations and local self-government bodies, which threatens to undermine the achievements of previous decentralization reforms. Furthermore, the paper addresses heightened risks of corruption and institutional dysfunctions that emerge particularly in rear regions where immediate military necessity is less pronounced. The authors evaluate the legal boundaries of constitutional restrictions on human rights and freedoms, focusing on the transformation of the national media landscape and the implementation of information control measures through the lens of the international "proportionality test" recognized by global legal standards.

Utilizing a synthesis of empirical sociological data and rigorous legal analysis, the study demonstrates the emergence of a unique «hybrid emergency regime» within Ukraine. This regime maintains its democratic source of legitimacy while simultaneously employing authoritarian instruments to ensure effective national defense. The concluding section articulates strategic pathways for post-war democratization and the comprehensive restoration of the public administration system. The authors argue that adherence to European governance standards and SIGMA principles is not merely a technical requirement but a fundamental prerequisite for Ukraine’s successful integration into the European Union and the long-term democratic stability of its political system.