Crime’s rate in a particular region is unquestionably affected by significant social and economic changes and circumstances, including aggressive wars. The unprovoked russia's war against Ukraine has caused deaths, injuries, and property damage, as well as displacement of people within and outside the country, job loss, homelessness, poverty, and social isolation.

Based on the official data from the Office of General Prosecutor ⁽¹⁾ , State Judicial Administration of Ukraine ⁽²⁾, ⁽³⁾ it can be observed that although the total number of registered crimes decreased in the first 6 months of 2022, but the crime rate (including war crimes) committed in whole year increased by almost 13%. Furthermore, in 2023, there was a significant raise in this indicator, by 31% (from 362 636 to 475 595).

And while 2022's increase in total number of crime rate was mostly war crimes, in 2023 we saw an increase in fraud (2.5 times more), drug-related crimes (+ 13%), theft (+ 18%), criminal offenses against life and health of a person (+ 47 %) compare with in 2022.

The number of recorded war crimes in 2023 remained almost at the level of 2022.

To accurately assess the level of crimes, it is necessary to compare the number of people who have committed crimes. Ukrainian statistics keeps records of persons who have been officially reported for suspicion.

In 2022, the number of persons amounted to 85,285, which was a 20% increase compared to the previous year. In 2023, law enforcement agencies notified 108,271 persons of suspicion, which was a 26% increase compared to 2022, but only a 1% higher than in 2021.

Considering the number of Ukrainians who left the country and received protection as refugees in other countries, as well as the territories currently occupied by Russia, for which there is no information on crimes committed, it can be concluded that objectively crime has increased during the full-scale war.

New circumstances of the war caused changes in the criminal market and services.

Introduction of martial law in Ukraine has restricted travel abroad for men aged 18-60 fit for military service. Unfortunately, not all Ukrainian men were prepared to defend the country. So, some part of them were seeking illegal ways to flee the country. Under Article 332 CCU «Illegal movement of persons across the state border» 1225 offences were registered in 2022, 643 persons were notified of suspicion, 120 persons were convicted. In 2023 registered 2301 offences, 783 persons were notified of suspicion, 191 persons were convicted.

In 2022, under Art. 2012 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Illegal Use of Humanitarian Aid, Charitable Donations, or Gratuitous Aid with a Purpose to Receive Profit” were registered 381 criminal offences, 92 persons received official notices on suspicion of committing this kind of offence and 2 persons were convicted. Next year 188 criminal offences were registered, 52 persons received official notices on suspicion and 21 persons were convicted.

Concerning the most dangerous crime – homicide/murder (art. 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) it should be noted that in 2022 law enforcement agencies registered 22 083 crimes (among them apparent premeditated murders - 5 264), suspects were 1101 and 355 persons were convicts.

In 2023 there were 36 667 registered crimes (among them apparent premeditated murders - 16 129), but the quantity of persons received official notices on suspicion were 1024, 466 persons were convicted.

As we can see, the number of recorded intentional homicides increased sharply after the outbreak of full-scale war. However, the number of persons reported as suspects as well as convicts have remained roughly the same since 2020.

So, the true level of murders is more accurately indicated not by the total number of registered cases under art. 115 CCU (because facts of suicides, missing persons, accidents are initially recorded under this article), but by the cases marked as "apparent murders" (Olena Shostko, Olga Podilchak. Modern Trends of World Crime. Problems of legality, 2020, 148: P. 188).

Summing up, it is important to take into consideration that crime statistics only reflect the number of crimes that have been reported to law enforcement agencies or about which they became aware when performing their functional duties. The effectiveness of law enforcement can impact the level of latent crime. The decrease in crime can be attributed to the poorer performance of law enforcement agencies. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, National Police of Ukraine, other law enforcement agencies were involved in streets patrol of Ukrainian cities in order to detect sabotage-reconnaissance groups. Law enforcement agencies have shifted their focus primarily to war crimes. Courts, police, and prosecutors’ offices have been relocated from the occupied territories. There is a serious shortage of judges in local and appellate courts. All these problems will most likely be solved (at least partially) after the war.