Legislative Support of Religious Policy in Ukraine Under Martial Law

The article examines the legislative framework of Ukraine's religious policy under the conditions of martial law caused by the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation. The constitutional foundations of state-confessional relations are analyzed, particularly the provisions of Article 35 of the Constitution of Ukraine on freedom of conscience and religion, as well as Article 64, which provides for the possibility of temporary restrictions on religious rights under martial law. Key legislative acts are reviewed: the Laws of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations" (1991, with amendments in 2018 and 2019), "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law" (2015), and "On Protecting the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activity of Religious Organizations" (2024). The main problems of legal regulation are identified: legal uncertainty in the implementation of the right to alternative (non-military) service, the limitation of grounds for alternative service solely to religious beliefs, insufficient procedural mechanisms for resolving inter-confessional conflicts, and gaps in the criteria and procedures for vetting religious organizations associated with the aggressor state. A comparative analysis of the international experience of Georgia, Israel, and Croatia confirms the necessity of adhering to three key principles: the temporariness of restrictions, mandatory judicial control, and the full restoration of democratic standards in the post-war period. Based on the research, recommendations for improving legislation are formulated, including the adaptation of the institution of alternative service to the conditions of martial law, the expansion of grounds for performing such service, the development of mechanisms for preventing interconfessional conflicts, and the establishment of clear procedures for restoring the rights of religious communities in the post-war period.