THE "SAFE CITY" SYSTEM IS A COMPONENT OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY MECHANISM

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the concept of «national security», which, under the conditions of contemporary global challenges, digital transformation, and the rapid development of information and communication technologies, has acquired new conceptual and practical dimensions. It is substantiated that the digitalization of public space significantly complicates the mechanisms for ensuring national security, expands the spectrum of security threats, transforms the instruments of public administration, and necessitates the integration of advanced digital technologies into the national security system. The study examines the conceptual and applied foundations of the «Safe City» digital platform as an instrument of the internal securitization of public space, an effective mechanism for enhancing public governance, and an integral component of Ukraine’s national security framework.

Based on Barry Buzan’s three-level security concept, the impact of intelligent video surveillance and analytical monitoring systems is analyzed at the levels of the individual, the state, and the international system, enabling an assessment of their contribution to strengthening national security resilience. The research demonstrates that the «Safe City» project is undergoing a significant functional transformation, evolving from a municipal tool designed to maintain public order, regulate traffic, and manage urban infrastructure during peacetime into a critical information and infrastructure component of Ukraine’s security and defense sector under martial law. It is established that data generated through video surveillance networks, automated video analytics, and other digital monitoring technologies constitute an important analytical basis for assessing the state of public safety and civil protection, detecting and preventing potential threats, responding promptly to emergencies, supporting law enforcement activities, and facilitating evidence-based decision-making by public authorities and local self-government bodies. The findings confirm that the further development and integration of digital security platforms represent one of the strategic priorities for strengthening Ukraine’s national resilience and ensuring the effectiveness of its national security policy in the context of hybrid threats and contemporary security challenges.