LEGAL GUARANTEES FOR THE SOCIAL PROTECTION OF PARTICIPANTS IN OPERATIONAL-INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES

Social protection for persons involved in operational and investigative activities is one of the key elements in ensuring the effective functioning of the state's law enforcement system and the implementation of the principles of a social state enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine.The special nature of operational and investigative activities, associated with increased risk to the life and health of those involved, necessitates the creation of an effective mechanism of legal, social, and material guarantees aimed at adequately protecting both regular employees of operational units and persons involved in confidential cooperation.In the context of the transformation of Ukraine's national security system and the intensification of efforts to combat crime and armed aggression by the russian federation, the importance of social protection for participants in operational and investigative activities is growing significantly.Performing operational and service tasks in difficult and dangerous conditions raises the issue not only of adequate material support, but also of guaranteeing labor, pension, medical, and other social rights, as well as protecting the family members of this category of persons in the event of death, injury, or loss of working capacity.At the same time, an analysis of current Ukrainian legislation reveals that legal regulation of social protection for participants in operational-investigative activities is fragmented and uneven.Attention should be paid to the issue of regulatory support for social guarantees for confidential informants, whose legal status remains № 13(54) 2025 32 insufficiently defined, creating legal uncertainty and potential risks of violation of their rights and legitimate interests.In view of the above, a comprehensive analysis of the legal framework for the social protection of participants in operational and investigative activities, considering constitutional principles, sectoral legislation, and modern scientific approaches, is a pressing task for legal science and practice.The results of this study are not only of theoretical but also practical importance for improving regulatory and legal regulation and increasing the effectiveness of the operational units of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.