CURRENT ISSUES IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL PROTECTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN UKRAINE

Since the preservation of cultural heritage sites is essential, their criminal legal protection remains relevant today. This study aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the norms of Ukraine's Criminal Code that, in one way or another, relate to the protection of Ukrainian cultural heritage. The research employed the methods of analysis, synthesis, scientific generalization, and formal-logical method. The paper explores Articles 178, 193, 201, 298, 307, and 316 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In the context of Article 178 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, it is stated that the subject of this criminal offense - a religious building or place of worship - is much narrower than the concept of "cultural heritage." At the same time, Articles 193 and 201 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine specify that the subject can only be a tangible object associated with intangible cultural heritage objects.Part 2 of Article 298 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine directly relates to the criminal-legal protection of cultural heritage in Ukraine. The article analyzes the sanctions of Part 2 of Article 298 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and provides recommendations for determining punishment under this part of the article. The paper also describes violations of legislative technique in constructing the composition of the criminal offense stipulated in Part 2 of Article 298 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and offers recommendations for their elimination.