On October 28, Lviv State University of Internal Affairs hosted an all-Ukrainian scientific and practical conference focused on the issue of mental health of a person in a crisis society.

More than 100 scientists and experts from different regions of Ukraine, as well as foreign colleagues, participated in the discussion. The event was held in a remotely, participants communicated online using the ZOOM platform.

The event began with a welcome speech by Roman Blahuta, Rector of LvSUIA. He noted that the nation's mental health was at risk during the war.

"This year's conference aims at discussing the further steps to systematize and consolidate all resources and developments available in science and practice to ensure access to quality mental health recovery services for all who need it. Since the first days of the war, our university has not stood aside from this problem. We set up a Psychological First Aid Center where anyone who needed support could come", said the Rector.

Nina Lyhun, Chief of the Psychological Support Department of the Department of Personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, also addressed the participants of the scientific event.

"Since the beginning of the full-scale war, our psychologists have been working tirelessly. They help the population to survive under extremely difficult conditions and maintain mental and physical health. I hope that this conference will help us in our further work," said Nina Lyhun.

The all-Ukrainian conference was moderated by Olha Balynska, Vice-Rector of LvSUIA, and Zoryana Kisil, Deputy Director of the Institute of Management, Psychology and Security of LvSUIA.

Many important issues were discussed during the event. In particular, the participants discussed current approaches to short-term psychological interventions for acute stress in military personnel.

The participants of the event shared their views on the algorithm for providing psychological first aid in case of a panic attack, the work of military psychologists with psychotrauma, the potential change in the personality of a policeman in war conditions, as well as discussed the techniques of restoring personal resources.

Specialists touched upon the family problems in forced migration, staff motivation, ontological security of a person and the influence of public communication on mental health.

All conference participants noted the scientific, practical and theoretical relevance of the issues presented for discussion in the context of the study of mental health of an individual in a crisis society, taking into account the realities of war. 

Denys Monastyrskyi presented the achievements and challenges of the MIA system during the war.

The event was attended by chiefs, research and teaching staff and higher education applicants. Lviv State University of Internal Affairs was represented by its Rector Roman Blahuta, members of the Rectorate, teachers and university students.

The Minister of Internal Affairs spoke about responding to new challenges and making operational decisions during a full-scale invasion. In particular, he emphasized that among the main tasks faced by the MIA employees are combating hostile sabotage and reconnaissance groups, optimization of checkpoints, quick responses to challenges related to a large number of internally displaced persons and people who moved urgently abroad, and as well as the organization of humanitarian aid collection points.

The Minister focused on the main areas of work of various units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs during the war. These include the registration of war crimes, the demining of liberated territories, the provision of aid to victims, the restoration of order in the de-occupied territories, as well as the blocking of assets of russia and belarus.

Denys Monastyrskyi told about the cyber information campaign to discredit and demotivate the russian military. He emphasized that due to this it was possible to block more than 18.7 thousand hostile resources with a total audience of more than 243 million users.

In his speech, the Minister of Internal Affairs emphasized the importance of consolidating the joint efforts of democratic world countries and presented achievements in the field of international cooperation.

Representatives of the the European Union Advisory Mission Ukraine delivered a lecture dedicated to the pressing issue.

Speakers of the event were Gediminas Bučiunas, Senior Adviser on Prosecution from Lithuania and Jukka Larkio, Trainer on Criminal Investigations from Finland.

The event was dedicated to the European Anti-Trafficking Day, which is celebrated annually on October 18.

Cadets and master's students of LvSUIA learned about various forms of human trafficking. The EUAM specialists explained to the audience why the victims usually do not want to talk about what happened to them and do not contact the relevant authorities.

Jukka Larkio noted that the crime of human trafficking is not instantaneous like theft.

"This is a long process consisting of recruitment, transportation and exploitation of people. Accordingly, the investigation of this crime takes some time," the speaker said.

The EUAM representatives also told the cadets and students how the intruders control the victims.

"Traffickers take advantage of the vulnerability or weak position of victims, for example, financial trouble", Gediminas Bučiunas emphasized.

Jukka Larkio added that there are a number of institutions providing assistance to victims, such as legal advice, financial support, medical services and accommodation.

In conclusion, the speakers emphasized that human trafficking is a crime without borders. After all, it occurs all over the world.

"We cannot stop immigration. But we are able to inform the population about the risks of falling into slavery, carry out preventive measures and take better care for victims of trafficking," Jukka Larkio summed up.

The event was organized on the initiative of the Department of Actualization of Learning and Practical Training of LvSUIA. 

First-year cadets of the Lviv State University of Internal Affairs gave the Oath of an employee of the National Police. More than 360 young men and women swore allegiance to the Ukrainian people.

The cadets swore to be a police officer with dignity and perform their duties faithfully, to follow the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, to respect and protect human rights and freedoms.

Freshmen and guests solemnly performed the National Anthem of Ukraine. And after that, a minute of silence was observed in memory of the defenders who died defending our homeland from the enemy.

Mary Akopyan, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, congratulated the freshmen on taking the Oath. She emphasized that choosing the profession of a law enforcement officer is a very responsible and courageous step, because being a Ukrainian police officer means being a model of stability, professionalism, humanity and resilience.

"Welcome to the big police family. I believe that you will study diligently and be ready at any moment to serve, protect Ukraine and our society. I am sure that your generation will be the guardians of order who will rebuild our state, create a new "security architecture" in Europe," the Deputy Minister emphasized.

On behalf of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mary Akopyan solemnly handed awards of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine to university's employees, police officers, national guardsmen, border guards, rescuers, representatives of the State Migration Service and the Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Lviv region.

Roman Blahuta, the Rector of LvSUIA, also addressed the first-year cadets with a welcome speech. "Each of you will have an interesting and rich training program ahead of you with the best Ukrainian experts. Remember that now you have a unique opportunity to communicate with experienced mentors who will help you master the intricacies of your profession," the Rector of the university said.

Andriy Hodyk, the First Deputy Head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, congratulating the cadets, noted, "You are the hope and support not only of the Lviv region, but also of the entire state."

Yuriy Kholod, the Deputy Chairman of the Lviv Regional Council, also congratulated the freshmen. "I am sure that you have made the right choice for the future of our country. Never hesitate, stand up for the defense of our independent, sovereign state."

Archpriest Ivan Revutskyi, the Priest at the Chapel of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin of Lviv State University of Internal Affairs, blessed the cadets for an easy and happy service.

The celebrations ended with a musical greeting and a joint photo commemorating this important event. 

Lviv State University of Internal Affairs held the celebration on the occasion of handing over service IDs and special police badges to freshmen cadets.

Rector Roman Blahuta, First Vice-Rector of the university Taras Sozanskyi, Director of the Institute for Training of Specialists for Units of the National Police Yuriy Nazar, Deputy Director of the Institute Danylo Yosyfovych, Deans of faculties Ruslan Shekhavtsov, Ihor Sydoruk and Stepan Hnatyuk handed out badges to the LvSUIA cadets.

After that, all those gathered jointly performed the National Anthem of Ukraine.

Roman Blahuta, Rector of the university, addressed the freshmen with a welcome speech.

"Receiving a special policeman's badge is an important event for each person entering law enforcement service. This is a big responsibility and a sign that you are becoming a part of a large police family," LvSUIA Rector said.

He thanked the cadets for choosing the police profession, and wished them perseverance and restraint in overcoming all obstacles.

At the end of the event, the cadets, stamping a step, passed a solemn march. 

The participants discussed how to counteract «modern-day slavery» during the war.

The video conference was joined by bloggers who on their YouTube channels talk about the lives of Ukrainians abroad and speak out against Russian aggression.

The event took place on October 18, on the European Day against Human Trafficking.

Cadets, students, post-graduate students, teachers and researchers of LvSUIA also took part in the discussion.

"Before the full-scale invasion, more than 300,000 Ukrainians in the world suffered from "modern-day slavery". As you know, war is a factor that always exacerbates the problem of human trafficking," Larysa Brych, the Head of the university's Research Laboratory, Professor of the Department of Criminal Law Disciplines at the Institute of Law, emphasized at the beginning of the event.

She also mentioned the importance of informing the public about possible risks and involving in such a campaign well-known bloggers who truthfully cover the topic of Ukrainian refugees in European countries on their YouTube channels.

Invited bloggers - Denys Halandzovskyi, Ihor Moroz and Yulius Rou shared their own experience and knowledge of the society's mood, the attitudes towards internally displaced persons from Ukraine, the prospects for their lives in Poland, the Czech Republic and Estonia. They also assessed the threat of human trafficking, which had been exacerbated by Russian military aggression.

Oleksandra Zakharova, the Head of the Department of Actualization of Learning and Practical Training at LvSUIA, presented the chatbot "Stay in safe" (https://t.me/stay_in_safe_ua_bot/), created by the university together with the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine.

At the end of the meeting, Kateryna Zhalovska, postgraduate student of the Department of Criminal Law Disciplines at the Institute of Law of LvSUIA, highlighted the problem of the disappearance of children during the war and the capabilities of the information platform https://childrenofwar.gov.ua/ to assist in their search.

During her working visit, Meri Akoppian met with the university chiefs and discussed possibilities of implementing new initiatives.

"We will make every effort to ensure that the training of specialists for the National Police is carried out at the appropriate level and that our graduates will be the best", said the Deputy Minister. "Therefore, we are ready for new ideas that will come from higher education institutions. After all, it is you who best understand what needs to be done to strengthen our capabilities and potential."

Admission campaign for entrants who have chosen the police profession has already begun. So Yuri Yatsenko, Head of Sector of the Organization of the Selection of Personnel Management NPMD in Lviv region, tells what steps are needed to become a cadet of Lviv State University of Internal Affairs.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Meri Akoppian got acquainted with LvSUIA material & technical base and educational opportunities, as well as with an international projects that have been successfully implemented in universities.

During her working visit, Meri Akoppian met with the university chiefs and discussed possibilities of implementing new initiatives.

"We will make every effort to ensure that the training of specialists for the National Police is carried out at the appropriate level and that our graduates will be the best", said the Deputy Minister. "Therefore, we are ready for new ideas that will come from higher education institutions. After all, it is you who best understand what needs to be done to strengthen our capabilities and potential."

A presentation of a ChatBot on combating Human Trafficking took place at Lviv State University of Internal Affairs. The information resource helps to identify dangerous situations, tells about various forms of modern slavery and advises where to seek help.

The authors of the resource are convinced that such a ChatBot will contribute to raise public awareness on the issue of Human Trafficking and help to prevent risky situations. This program contains a lot of infographics, it explains the rules of safe employment, study, travel and online communication. Thanks to the resource, it's possible to find information quickly about how to help relatives or friends who have fallen into modern slavery.

Users are also invited to deepen their knowledge in the field of combating Human Trafficking – to take a thematic quest and online training course.

The "STAY SAFE" ChatBot was created in collaboration with Lviv State University of Internal Affairs and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, with the assistance of the Ministry of Social Policy and the National Police.

"We are working closely with the OSCE to combat Human Trafficking. Most of our projects are interactive; they involve the introduction of new methods for police training. We also jointly conduct educational activities aimed at promoting the idea of a safe environment and preventing Human Trafficking. Such an educational project is the creation of a ChatBot "STAY SAFE", which will be interesting not only for young generation but also for people of all ages." – the Rector of Lviv State University of Internal Affairs Roman Blahuta said during the presentation.

Head of "Human Security" Program, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine Lilia Hrudko stressed that the launch of such an information resource is a good opportunity to once again draw attention to the issue of trafficking in human beings.

Acting Head of the Migration Police Department Dmitry Chibisov said that the most crimes in the field of human trafficking are committed through the use of modern technology. "This ChatBot will help people to get comprehensive answers to important questions, navigate the situation and find out to whom to turn for protection", Dmytro Chibisov noted.

Chief Specialist of the Department for Monitoring Compliance with European Equality Standards of the Ministry of Social Policy Anna Pylypenko assured that the Ministry of Social Policy will help disseminate information about the "STAY SAFE" ChatBot among representatives of regional state administrations and local communities.

Head of the Department for Combating Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence and Gender Equality of the National Social Service Olena Vyhor also supported the idea of creating a ChatBot on combating Human Trafficking and noted that such an information resource would help to identify victims of this crime.

The information content of the ChatBot was told by its developers – Head of the Department for Actualization of Education and Practical Training of the Lviv State University of Internal Affairs Oleksandra Zakharova, Head of the public organization "Contemporary Plus" Elvira Mruchkovska and Inspector of the Analytical Department of the Criminal Analysis Department of the National Police of Ukraine Vasyl Nyzhnyk.

You can join the ChatBot "STAY SAFE" by following the link https://t.me/stay_in_safe_ua_bot 

The competition took place in a warm and cozy atmosphere. Participants observed exercises with great enthusiasm. Winners of the championship were determined in several nominations. The best shooting team among the cadets became the team of the 3rd course of the Faculty № 1, which included Andriy Teslya, Illya Shevchuk and Sofiya Panyak.

The second place was got by the sophomores of the Faculty № 2 Maksym Frolov, Nikita Surnin and Olha Stelmakh. The third place was taken by the sophomores of the Faculty № 3 Tetyana Romanyuk, Anastasiya Ivat and Olena Leshchyk.

Nikita Surnin, a sophomore of the Faculty № 2 , was the best scorer among the cadets, Illya Shevchuk, a third-year cadet of the 1st faculty, won the second place, and his colleague Andriy Teslya took the third place.

The championship among the teams of university employees was won by the team of the Faculty №3 consisting of Mariya Lysa, Petro Verbytskyy and Maryan Kurlyak. Representatives of this Faculty - Kateryna Krushelnytska, Volodymyr Synenkyy and Nazariy Tuz - also took the second place. And the third place was won by the team of the Faculty №2, which included Ihor Sydoruk, Oksana Chychkan and Ihor Hnyp.

According to the results of the competition, the best shooter among the university staff was also determined. Mariya Lysa confidently won in this nomination. Second place went to Ihor Sydoruk, and third - Nazariy Tuz. 

According to the participants of the championship, such competitions among shooters are exciting and interesting, so they asked the organizers to hold a new tournament at the beginning of the next year.

For the second week in a row Lviv State University of Internal Affairs is holding an academic mobility program. This time in the university there are teachers and cadets from Dnipro.

As part of the program, DSUIA representatives visited the Main Police Department of Lviv Region, where they got acquainted with the work of the 102 service, talked to operators and learned about the peculiarities of responding to calls. In addition, they heard a lot of interesting things about the main tasks and structure of this service.

Representatives from Dnipro also visited the Situational Department of the Office of Organizational and Analytical Support. Dean of the Faculty №3 Stepan Hnatyuk told the audience that this unit has the opportunity to interact with the system of video surveillance cameras, which are installed in Lviv as part of the project "Safe City".

This event turned out to be extremely informative and interesting. Cadets and teachers of Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs had a great opportunity to look inside the work of services that depend on prompt and high-quality response to citizens' appeals.

Thematic event was held for cadets of Lviv State University of Internal Affairs on the International Anti-Corruption Day. Danylo Yosyfovych, Deputy Director of the Institute for Training Specialists for National Police Units and Andriy Hodyak, LvSUIA Commissioner for Anti-Corruption – told the applicants about the peculiarities of anti-corruption policy in Ukraine and abroad.

The event was started by Danylo Yosyfovych. He stressed that corruption undermines and destroys the foundations of social order. Andriy Hodiak acquainted the audience with the judicial practice of applying anti-corruption legislation. At the end of the lecture, cadets watch a video on the prevention and settlement of conflicts of interest in professional activities, created by the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption.

Today at Lviv State University of Internal Affairs the results of the regional Competition of Scientific Essays on social and legal issues among student youth were announced. This year the event was held for the second time. According to the organizers, the purpose of the competition is to find and support the development of talented student youth who are able to independently analyze and assess the social nature of socio-legal problems and justify their own vision of problem solving.

The event was initiated by LvSUIA, Department of Education and Science of LRSA, as well as by Lviv Regional Academy of Sciences for young students.

Rector of Lviv State University of Internal Affairs Roman Blahuta; Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Science of the LRSA Olha Kotovska, winner of last year competition of scientific essays Yulia Krasutska – addressed a welcoming speech to everyone who joined the event.

23 scientific essays from schools in Lviv and the region were submitted to participate in the competition. This year, the winners were awarded diplomas, others – certificates confirming their participation in the competition and received memorable gifts.

Congratulations!

As part of the All-Ukrainian action "16 days against violence" Lviv State University of Internal Affairs hosted a team police quest training "Peculiarities of the investigation of human trafficking". 

Oleksandra Zakharova, Head of LvSUIA Department of Actualization of Education and Practical Training, noted that the purpose of the event is to gain and develop professional skills of future specialists for the National Police in organizing the investigation of crimes related to human trafficking, cooperation of structural units in detecting and investigating crimes, carrying out procedural and other actions.

"Our university is the only one in Ukraine that trains specialists in the field of combating human trafficking", added Oleksandra Zakharova.

The team of cadets of the Institute for Training of Specialists for National Police Departments gradually solved simulated cases at different locations. Materials of operative-search activity were drawn up in the office of the authorized operative subdivision. An operator and a dispatcher worked in the Situation Center ("line 102"). In addition, a car of malefactors was stormed on the road section, where the injured person was transported. Also a search with involvement of a group of special forces in the apartment where the victim was subjected to exploitation was carried out. Finally, the psychologist established psychological contact with the victim and interrogated him.

The main emphasis in the quest was on the interaction of structural units of the National Police in the investigation of crimes on human trafficking.

In general, the cadet police quest involved cadets in the role of investigators, operatives, psychologists, patrol officers, employees of the situation center "102", special forces, forensic specialists, witnesses, criminals. Actors who played the role of victims were also involved.

  Lviv State University of Internal Affairs is actively involved in the project for implementation of academic mobility programs between higher education institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to Valentyn Ludvik, Associate Professor of Criminal Law and Criminology at Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs, thanks to the academic mobility program he has already visited Kharkiv and during the week he is going to adopt the experienve from LvSUIA colleagues.

"There are only  positive impressions of the program. Such an exchange is important for both cadets and teachers. It helps us to get acquainted with new methods and works", the representative of DSUIA.

During the week, representatives of DSUIA will be able to get acquainted with the material and technical base of the university. In addition, they will participate in various events that are taking place at Lviv State University of Internal Affairs, as well as visit the Main Department of the National Police in Lviv region.

Cadets and students of Lviv State University of Internal Affairs took part in an interactive discussion "Understanding masculinity and gender equality in the security sector of Ukraine."  

The results of the national study on this topic were presented during the event. More than one and a half thousand representatives of the National Police, State Border Guard Service and National Guard of Ukraine took part in the survey.

During a video presentation "3 things you need to know" Deputy Interior Minister Kateryna Pavlichenko told about how the research was conducted.

This was followed by an interactive quiz, which was attended by applicants for higher education institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In total, several discussion panels were held during the event. The participants, first of all, shared their thoughts on what gender equality, masculinity and feminism are. In addition, gender biases and stereotypes about the roles of women and men at work were discussed. The topic of gender-based violence was also discussed. In particular, young people were asked to express their views on whether a woman should endure violence to save her family.

Rector of Lviv State Univesrity of Internal Affairs Roman Blahuta also addressed the freshmen with a welcoming speech. "Every citizen of Ukraine who enters the service of the National Police personally takes the Oath. These simple but profound words concentrate all the requirements on which the service in the National Police of Ukraine is based. After all, there is no higher duty than to serve the Motherland".