Abstract
<jats:p>This article examines the specifics of the implementation of the provisions of the Istanbul Convention into Ukrainian national legislation, specifically those concerning criminal liability for domestic violence. It is noted that the relevance of studying domestic violence as a criminally punishable act is further underscored by the fact that Ukraine is currently not only actively integrating into the European legal space but is also constantly repelling armed aggression by the Russian Federation. The normative framework governing criminal liability for the commission of criminal offenses, for which liability is provided for under Article 1261 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, has been analyzed. A brief criminological overview of domestic violence in Ukraine has been provided. Potential transformations in criminal proceedings in cases of domestic violence are outlined in the context of the state’s European integration trajectory. It has been determined that the wording of Article 1261 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine could be improved to align with the standards of the Istanbul Convention and to clarify its current provisions. It has been established that the number of recorded offenses under the aforementioned article of the Criminal Code of Ukraine during 2020–2025 was not stable and saw a sharp decline in 2022 (due to the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion and the related events and public sentiment). It is emphasized that the factor of military tension has been present in the context of domestic violence since 2014. It is noted that, in accordance with the provisions of the Istanbul Convention (Article 55), criminal proceedings regarding domestic violence should not be contingent on a report or complaint by the victim and should be able to continue even if the victim withdraws their report or complaint. </jats:p>