The thesis theoretically summarizes and solves the task of scientific and theoretical substantiation of the mechanisms for the implementation of civil-military cooperation (hereinafter referred to as "CIMIC") in the security and defense sector of Ukraine (hereinafter referred to as "SDS of Ukraine"), their current state is analyzed, and recommendations for state and military administration are developed regarding the improvement of mechanisms for the implementation of the CIMIC in the SDS of Ukraine. Completed research tasks provide an opportunity to formulate conclusions and recommendations.
The analysis of the current system, main and auxiliary functions of the CIMIC made possible to formulate the main tasks of the CIMIC of the components of the security and defense forces of Ukraine.
The author's definition of the concept of civil-military cooperation in the security and defense sector of Ukraine is proposed, as a systematic activity of the components of the security and defense forces of Ukraine for interaction with objects of the civilian environment, aimed at protecting the national interests of Ukraine from threats, by using military and non-military forces and means and with taking into account the experience of NATO member states.
The author's classification of the CIMIC mechanisms in the SDS of Ukraine is provided: organizational, legal, political, informational, and special. Their role in the system of military and state administration is clarified.
Based on the analysis of the characteristics of the above-mentioned mechanisms, an author's definition of the CIMIC mechanisms in the SDS of Ukraine is proposed as a system activity of state administration bodies, management bodies of components of SDS of Ukraine, governmental, non-governmental and international organizations, designated officials who are united by common goals and tasks aimed at ensuring national security through proper use of the state's communication capabilities: public relations, information and psychological operations, civil-military cooperation with the general goal of promoting the national narrative and the formation of society's understanding of the activities of the components of the SDS of Ukraine, as well as the establishment of permanent effective coordination of the force bloc and other institutions of public society.
A systematic analysis of the legislative and regulatory framework on the CIMIC mechanisms in the SDS of Ukraine was carried out, which shows that in the process of forming the legal system for the implementation of the CIMIC in the SDS of Ukraine as part of the interdepartmental (security and defense forces of Ukraine), the process of coordination with international legal acts according to common European standards is ongoing. It was revealed that today the components of the security and defense forces of Ukraine, responsible for the implementation of the CIMIC, do not function as a general common system of the CIMIC in the SDS of Ukraine, taking into account a number of restraining factors of the development of the CIMIC in the SDS of Ukraine, namely: the low efficiency of the interaction system of the components of the security and defense forces of Ukraine; lack of understanding by representatives of state bodies principles of functioning of the CIMIC; the insufficient level of development of international cooperation in the sphere of the CIMIC; the need for training of employees in the field of CIMIC in crisis and strategic communications and strategic planning; difficulty in understanding the concept of "target audience" with certain features of forming narratives for them; the peculiarity of using a new type of external aggression with various political, economic, informational, social, infrastructural means of confrontation along with traditional military operations, etc.
Problematic issues of the functioning of the CIMIC mechanisms in the SDS of Ukraine were identified and formulated, namely: the low level of legal regulation of issues regarding the capabilities of the SDS of Ukraine in the sphere of the CIMIC, as a component of the national and interdepartmental system of the CIMIC; the lack of a conceptual legal framework for the regulation of the CIMIC mechanisms in the SDS of Ukraine; the uncertainty general principles of functioning, content of forms and methods, components and other parameters of the effective functioning system of the CIMIC in the SDS of Ukraine in the current regulatory and legal framework, taking into account the current threats to the national security of Ukraine; weak efficiency of interdepartmental interaction and its dependence on interpersonal contacts; the need for a normative consolidation of the CIMIC mechanisms in the SDS of Ukraine, the creation of educational and scientific centers of the CIMIC in the components of the SDS of Ukraine in accordance with the standards applied by NATO member states.
