Criminal characteristics of medicine counterfeit in Ukraine: determinants and current trends in the conditions of military aggression

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive criminological analysis of the counterfeiting of medicines and their illegal circulation in Ukraine, taking into account modern challenges caused by military aggression and the transformation of socio-economic relations. It is substantiated that under martial law, this type of crime takes on new forms and is characterized by an increased level of latency, organization, and transnationality. The main determinants of counterfeiting of medicines are analyzed, including economic (shortage of certain drugs, increased demand for medicines, decreased purchasing power of the population), organizational and managerial (insufficient control over the circulation of humanitarian aid, gaps in state regulation of the pharmaceutical market), and socio-psychological factors (increased level of anxiety among the population, increased trust in unofficial sales channels). Particular attention is paid to the analysis of current trends in the distribution of counterfeit medicines, in particular, the intensification of their sale via the Internet, the use of logistical channels of humanitarian aid and the involvement of organized criminal groups in relevant illegal activities.

The criminological portrait of persons who commit such offenses is determined, and the features of the victimological characteristics of the victims are outlined. It is proven that counterfeiting of medicines poses a real threat not only to the economic security of the state, but also to the life and health of the population, especially in conditions of limited access to quality medical care. Based on the research, proposals are formulated to improve the system for preventing this type of crime, in particular by strengthening interdepartmental coordination, implementing modern digital mechanisms for controlling the circulation of medicines, as well as harmonizing national legislation with international standards in the field of combating counterfeiting of medical products.