Keywords
evidentiary base
long-range weapons
crime scene examination
digital evidence
procedural documentation
spatial analysis
unmanned aerial vehicles
geographic information systems
three-dimensional modeling
How to Cite
Abstract
Abstract. Relevance of the study is driven by the growing number of criminal proceedings regarding war crimes involving the use of long-range strike capabilities, which result in significant destruction of civilian infrastructure and numerous casualties. The scale of the consequences, the complexity of the trace patterns, the hazardous conditions for conducting investigative (detective) actions, as well as the necessity of utilizing the obtained evidence at both national and international levels, necessitate the improvement of forensic approaches tocrime scene documentation. Particular attention is required to ensure the completeness, accuracy, and admissibility of documenting material and digital traces, which are crucial for establishing the circumstances of the event and the criminal-legal classification of the acts. The purpose of the study is to define the specifics of crime scene documentation following the use of long-range strike capabilities and to develop a systemic approach to documenting evidentiary information in criminal proceedings concerning war crimes. The methodological framework consists of general scientific and specialized research methods. Specifically, analysis and synthesis were employed to process scientific sources and the regulatory legal framework; generalization was used to systematize approaches to evidence documentation; a systemic approach was applied to form an integrated documentation model; a comparative-legal method was used to study the norms of national and international law; and forensic analysis was utilized to determine the specifics of the trace patterns resulting from explosive damage. As a result of the study, the necessity of systematizing the objects of crime scene documentation is proven, their forensic significance is defined, and their documentation specifics are established, which ensures the comprehensive formation of the evidentiary base. The trace pattern formed by the use of long-range strike capabilities is characterized, and the significance of its elements for establishing the mechanism of the event is justified. A structured algorithm of actions during a crime scene inspection is proposed, ensuring consistency, completeness, and admissibility of evidence documentation. The role of digital technologies—specifically unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), geographic information systems(GIS), satellite data, and three-dimensional modeling—is identified in enhancing measurement accuracy, georeferencing objects, and reconstructing the circumstances of the event.
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