The Department of  Criminalistics, Forensic Science and Pre-Medical Training is part of the Educational and Research Institute No. 1 of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs and is a specialised unit for training specialists for pre-trial investigation bodies of the National Police of Ukraine. Currently, the department is headed by Doctor of Law, Professor, Lieutenant Colonel of the Police Vlada Oleksandrivna Husieva.

The academic staff of the department is actively engaged in scientific, educational, methodological and organisational work. The Department consists of: Head of the Department - Doctor of Law, Professor V. O. Husieva; Professors of the Department - Doctor of Law, Professor I. V. Zozulia, Doctor of Law, Professor O. O. Yukhno, Candidate of Law, Associate Professor V. V. Kikinchuk, Candidate of Law, Associate Professor T. Matiushkova; Associate Professors of the Department - Candidate of Law, Associate Professor S. Knizhenko, Candidate of Psychology, Associate Professor O. Makarova; Senior Lecturer of the Department - K. Penzieva; Lecturers of the Department - Candidate of Law Y. Zabolotna, E. Zozulia.

Vlada Oleksandrivna Guseva graduated with honors from the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law Academy of Ukraine in 2005. During 2005-2011, she served in the internal affairs bodies in the investigative units of the Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Kharkiv region. Since 2011, she has been working at the Department of Criminalistics and Forensic Science of the Educational and Research Institute No. 1 of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, currently holding the position of Head of the Department.

In 2011, she defended her dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Law, and in 2016, she received the academic title of ‘Associate Professor’. In 2021, she defended her dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Laws on the topic ‘Theoretical foundations of the methodology for investigating crimes against the authority of public authorities in the field of law enforcement’, and in 2022 she was awarded the academic title of Professor.

She is an expert of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine for scientific and scientific-technical expertise of objects of expertise in the field of scientific and scientific-technical activity. V.O. Husieva is also a member of the editorial board of the collection of scientific papers ‘Archive of Criminology and Forensic Sciences’ published by the National Scientific Centre ‘Bokarius Institute of Forensic Expertise’ of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. In addition, he is a member of the Dissertation Council D 64.896.01, established at the National Scientific Centre ‘Bokarius Institute of Forensic Expertise’ of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine with the right to accept for consideration and defend theses for the degree of Doctor of Law (specialities 12.00.07, 12.00.09).

Under the scientific supervision of V. Husieva, she defended 10 dissertations for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Law. She is the author of about 200 scientific papers.

Field of research: general theory of forensic methodology; problems of methodological and forensic support for the investigation of criminal offences; problems related to tactical and forensic support for the conduct of certain investigative (search) actions, the use of special knowledge; issues related to improving the training of specialists for pre-trial investigation and inquiry bodies of the National Police of Ukraine.

Since 1979, Ihor Viktorovych Zozulia has held scientific and teaching positions at the Kharkiv Institute of Radio Electronics, Kharkiv Institute of Fire Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (Major of Internal Service), and Kharkiv Institute of Social Progress. In 2001, he started his research activities at Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, and currently holds the position of Professor of the Department of Criminalistics and Forensic Science.

In 1989, he defended his dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences, a topic marked ‘For official use only’. In 2011, he defended his doctoral dissertation on the topic ‘Theory and Practice of Reforming the System of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine: Administrative and Legal Principles’.

He is also one of the founders and executive secretary and member of the editorial board of the scientific journal ‘Law and Security’ (2002-2007). Executive secretary and member of the editorial board of the scientific journal ‘Forum of Law’, member of the editorial board of the collection of scientific papers ‘Scientific Journal of the Drahomanov National Pedagogical University. Series 18. Law’.

I. V. Zozulia pays active attention to the problems of improving the regulatory and legal support and management of the security of a person, society and the state, as well as innovations in law enforcement technologies, special knowledge and technical and forensic support of the investigation, his work has become the basis for fundamental developments. To date, the scientist has published over 480 scientific papers. I. V. Zozulia is a supervisor and responsible executor of 18 research projects, under his supervision 1 doctoral and 5 PhD theses were defended.

His research interests include: regulatory and legal support and management tools for the security of individuals, society and the state; innovation of law enforcement technologies; special knowledge and technical and forensic support of investigations.

Oleksandr Viktorovich Yukhno graduated from Kharkiv Law Institute in 1978. In 1989-2004, he held various positions at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Kharkiv Region and senior positions at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine at Odesa Railway. In 2005-2011, he held managerial and academic positions at Odesa State University of Internal Affairs. From 2011 to 2021, he was the Head of the Department of Criminal Procedure and Organisation of Pre-trial Investigation of the Faculty No. 1 of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, and since 2021 he has been a Professor of the Department of Criminalistics and Forensic Science.

In 2005, he defended his dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Law, and in 2012, O. Yukhno defended his dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Law on the topic ‘Conceptual Principles of Operational and Investigative Prevention of Crimes by Internal Affairs in the Modern Conditions of Development of Ukraine’, in 2013, the scientist was awarded the academic title of ‘Professor’.

Under his advice and supervision, 3 doctoral and 12 PhD theses were defended. He is a member of the closed specialised academic council of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs SRD 64.700.07 with the right to defend doctoral dissertations in the specialities 12.00.08, 12.00.09.

O. O. Yukhno is a member of the editorial boards of the scientific publications ‘Our Law’, ‘Pravo.UA’, the Bulletin of the Criminological Association of Ukraine, and has published more than 200 works during his scientific and pedagogical activity.

His research interests include issues of criminal procedure, criminal law and criminology, criminology, operational and investigative activities, and combating crime in Ukraine.

Vasyl Vasylovich Kikinchuk graduated from the Kherson Law Institute of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs in 2010 with a degree in Law, and from Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs in 2016 with a degree in Finance and Credit. In 2010-2012, he worked in the investigative units of the Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Zakarpattia region, in 2012-2016 he studied and worked at the Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs.

Since 2016, he has been working at the Department of Criminalistics and Forensic Science of the Educational and Research Institute No. 1, currently holds the position of Professor of the Department (part-time - 0.25 rate), and is the Director of the Educational and Research Institute No. 2 of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs.

In 2014, he defended his dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Law on the topic ‘Methodology of Investigation of Crimes Related to the Use of Budgetary Funds in the Agro-Industrial Complex of Ukraine’ and is currently working on his doctoral dissertation. In 2022, he was awarded the academic title of associate professor. Under his scientific supervision, he defended 5 dissertations for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Law.

Research interests: general theory of forensic methodology; problems of forensic support of criminal investigation; use of special knowledge; issues of improving the training of specialists for pre-trial investigation and inquiry bodies of the National Police of Ukraine.

Tetiana Petrivna Matiushkova graduated from Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, after which she worked in the investigative units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Kharkiv region. Since 2000, she has been working at the Department of Criminalistics and Forensic Science at the Educational and Research Institute No. 1, currently as a professor of the department (0.25 part-time), and heads the Department of International Cooperation of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs.

In 2006, she defended her dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Law on the topic ‘Tactics of interrogation of female victims of violent crimes’, in 2011 she was promoted to Associate Professor and is currently working on her doctoral dissertation.

T. P. Matiushkova is the coordinator for the use of the LEEd CEPOL educational platform at the university; a member of the working group on the development of educational and methodological materials within the framework of the international technical assistance project ‘Improving the state of protection and response to ionising radiation sources in Ukraine’; a participant in the international research project ‘Interdisciplinary Research Cooperation on Foreign Interference, Suppression and Manipulation of Information in Diaspora Communities’ (RESONANT), the Horizon Europe Programme.

He is the author of more than 100 scientific, educational, methodological works, including textbooks, manuals, scientific and methodological recommendations on the investigation of certain types of crimes and conducting certain investigative (detective) actions.

Field of research: tactics of investigative (detective) actions, methods of investigation of certain types of crimes (against life and health of a person, sexual freedom and inviolability, traffic safety and operation of transport, drug trafficking, election crimes, cybercrime, etc.)

Svitlana Oleksandrivna Knizhenko graduated from the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law Academy in 1997. In 1998-2000, she worked in the Pension Fund of Ukraine and in the investigative units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Kharkiv region. In 2000, she started her academic career and is currently an associate professor at the Department of Criminalistics and Forensic Science at the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs.

In 2006, she defended her dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Law on the topic ‘Criminalistics characteristics and basic provisions of the methodology for investigating environmental crimes’. She was awarded the academic title of ‘Associate Professor’ in 2011. In 2016, she defended her dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Laws under her scientific supervision. During her scientific and pedagogical activity, she has published more than 130 scientific and methodological works.

Field of research: general theory of forensic methodology; problems of methodological and forensic support for the investigation of criminal offences against justice; problems related to tactical and forensic support for certain investigative (detective) actions, the use of special knowledge, etc.

Olena Pavlivna Makarova graduated from H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv State Pedagogical University in 2004 with a degree in Psychology and obtained a law degree from Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs in 2017. In 2004-2013, she worked in the human resources sector of the Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Kharkiv Region. In 2013, she started teaching at Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, and currently holds the position of Associate Professor of the Department of Criminalistics and Forensic Science at the School of Internal Affairs No. 1.

In 2017, she defended her dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Psychological Sciences on the topic ‘Features of the development of professional identity of future law enforcement officers’ (speciality 19.00.06 - legal psychology), in 2021 she received the academic title of ‘associate professor’.

Research interests: use of psychological and psychiatric knowledge in criminal proceedings, problems of appointing examinations during the investigation, tactical methods of conducting certain investigative (detective) actions.

Kateryna Mykolaivna Penzieva graduated from the University of Internal Affairs in 1999 with a degree in Information Systems in Management and obtained a law degree from Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs in 2018. During 2003-2020, she worked in the investigative units of the Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Kharkiv region and the operational units of the Security Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv region.

Since 2020, she has been working as a senior lecturer at the Department of Criminalistics and Forensic Science at Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, where she is currently a senior lecturer at the Institute of Criminalistics and Forensic Science No. 1. She is currently working on her dissertation on the topic: ‘Methods of Investigation of the Causing of Negligent Grievous or Moderate Bodily Harm’.

Field of research: methods of investigation of bodily injury, tactics of certain investigative (detective) actions, technical and forensic support of criminal offences.

Yevhenii Viktorovych Zozulia graduated from Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs in 2001, after which he worked in the operational unit of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Kharkiv region and in the Department of the State Automobile Inspection in Kharkiv region. Since 2005, he has been working as a lecturer at the Department of Criminalistics and Forensic Science of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, and is currently working as a lecturer at the Department of Criminalistics and Forensic Science of the School of Internal Affairs No. 1. He is currently working on his dissertation on the topic: ‘Criminalistics Characteristics and Organisation of Investigation of Coercion to Fulfil or Failure to Fulfil Civil Obligations’.

Research interests: methods of investigation of certain criminal offences, tactics of investigative (detective) actions.

The Department has a long history dating back to 1984. The heads of the department, in particular, A. Kompaniets, V. Hayenko, M. Shcherbakovskyi, A. Volobuiev, R. Stepaniuk, V. Kikinchuk, V. Kornienko, played a significant role in its development.

Also, a significant contribution to the development of the department was made by the scientific and pedagogical staff who worked at the department at different times, namely: A.P. Antoniuk, T.F. Bezsonna, B.A. Burbelo, T.V. Ganzha, V.V. Zagorulko, S.O. Zakharchenko, D.D. Zayats, V.V. Kolesnikov, O.I. Kryvodid, S.P. Lapta, S.M. Lozova, V.O. Malyarova, O.V. Olishevskyi, T.A. Orlova, V.O. Peresada, V.O. Prykhodko, Yu. Redko, M.M. Tagaev, T.I. Savchuk, O.A. Sevidov, D.V. Simonovych, N.I. Streltsova, M.G. Chernets, who were actively engaged in scientific and scientific-pedagogical work.

Scientific work

The Department is a centre for the disclosure and development of the scientific potential of higher education students. The staff of the department is constantly engaged in fundamental scientific research on the peculiarities of the use of forensic tools and methods in the investigation of crimes, the use of special knowledge in the implementation of criminal procedural activities, etc. Research results are implemented in the form of monographs, textbooks, scientific and methodological recommendations on the algorithm of actions of the National Police personnel, proposals for improving the departmental regulatory framework. The scientific works of the department's representatives have been repeatedly nominated for competitions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and won prizes.

During 2020-2024, the scientific and pedagogical staff of the Department prepared and published more than 15 publications in journals indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, as well as more than 100 scientific articles in domestic professional journals and foreign journals. Active work is also being done to prepare scientific and methodological recommendations, manuals and guidelines, including at the request of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Main Investigation Department of the NPU, the Cyber Police Department of the NPU, etc. Among the latest developments:

1. Investigation of war crimes and war-related criminal offences: criminal law, criminal procedure and forensic aspects : a scientific and practical manual. To the 30th anniversary of the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs / [I. V. Klymenko, M. S. Tsutskiridze, Y. V. Orlov, et al. Kharkiv: Pravo, 2024. 432 с.
2. The use of special knowledge in the investigation of collaboration activities: a practical guide / Nechesnyuk MV, Vozniuk AA, Pysmenskyi EO, Husieva  VO, Pyrig IV. Kyiv: NAVS, 2024. 130 с.
3. Modern forensic means and methods of combating crime : a textbook / R. Stepaniuk, V. Husieva ; Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs. Kharkiv: KHNUIA, 2024. 232 с. ISBN 978-966-610-278-5.
4. Features of the investigation of frauds committed with the use of social engineering and information and communication technologies: scientific and methodological recommendations for practical units of the National Police of Ukraine / Dereviagin OO, Kornienko VV, Manzhai OV, Fomina TG, Han OO, Cherevko KO Kharkiv: Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs; Fact, 2024. 100 с.
5. Problems of professional legal aid: theory and practice: monograph / Martovytska O. V., Yukhno O. O. - 2nd ed: Fact, 2024. 420 с. ISBN 978-617-8175-24-5.
6. Features of the pre-trial investigation on the application of compulsory measures of a medical nature: Monogr ./Turenko D.V., Yukhno O.O., [for science. Ed. Yukhna O.O.]; Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Kharkiv. nat. un-t internal affairs. Kharkiv: Fact, 2024. 223 cf. ISBN 978-617-8175-17-7.
7. Prokopenko O. Yu. Methods of investigating the seizure of a government official or law enforcement officer as a hostage: monograph; by zag. ed. prof. V. O. Husieva . Kharkiv: Fact 2024. 216 p.
8. Haidar O.V. The use of special knowledge in the investigation of the secret theft of someone else's property: monograph/edited by Dr. Yurid. sciences, prof. V. O. Husieva . Kharkiv: LLC "In Business," 2023. 185 with.
9. Chizh A.P. Methods of investigation of intentional destruction or damage to property of a law enforcement officer: monograph/edited by Dr. Yurid. sciences, prof. V. O. Husieva . Kharkiv: LLC "In Business," 2023. 205 p.
10. Criminalistics: forensic technology: teaching staff ./R. L. Stepanyuk, V. A. Husieva , V. V. Kikinchuk and others; Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Kharkiv. nat. un-t internal affairs. Kharkiv: KNUVD, 2023. 388 p.
11. Fundamentals of the methodology for investigating intentional grievous bodily harm caused in a state of great emotional excitement: monograph/I. A. Term, O. O. Yukhno; Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Kharkiv. nat. un-t internal affairs. Kharkiv: Fact, 2022. 204 p. (Library of investigator and detective: problems of criminology and criminal process). ISBN 978-617-8072-57-5.
12. Pre-medical training: teaching staff ./[ col. author: V.V. Kikinchuk, S.O. Knizhenko, T.I. Savchuk et al.]; Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Kharkiv. nat. un-t internal affairs. Kharkiv: KNUVD, 2021. 176 cf. ISBN 978-966-610-247-1.
13. Husieva V.O. Methods of investigating crimes against the authority of state authorities in the field of law enforcement: monograph. Kharkiv: LLC "In Business," 2020. 452 cf. ISBN 978-617-7305-57-5.

The department also works actively to implement tasks related to the training of scientific and teaching staff. It is a systematic approach to the process of formation of young scientists, including by promoting their independent research. During 2020-2024, the Department prepared and successfully defended dissertation research:

• for the degree of Doctor of Laws in the specialty 12.00.09 by V. Gusev (2021);
• for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the specialty 081 “Law” by K. Mishina (2022), A. Novytskyi (2022), O. Naumkin (2024) - scientific adviser V. Kikinchuk; A. Vuyma (2023) - scientific adviser R. L. Vuyma. ) - scientific adviser R.L. Stepaniuk; K.A. Shapoval (2023), O.V. Haidar (2024), A.P. Chyzh (2024), O.Y. Prokopenko (2024) - scientific adviser V.O. Guseva; D.V. Turenko (2023) - scientific adviser O.O. Yukhno.

Also, the scientific and pedagogical staff of the Department provide scientific guidance in writing dissertations for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science in the specialty 081 “Law”.

For a long time, the priority of the department has been the creation and development of scientific schools, the fundamental principles for which were laid by such prominent scientists as M. V. Saltevsky, A. F. Volobuev, M. M. Tagaev, N. I. Streltsova, M. G. Shcherbakovsky, R. L. Stepaniuk, and others. Today, the staff of the department continues the glorious traditions of scientific and applied research and the search for innovative approaches in teaching special disciplines.

The main directions of scientific research of the department:

• the use of special knowledge in the investigation of crimes, including the problems of conducting certain types of forensic examinations;
• peculiarities of tactics of investigative (detective) actions;
• investigation of certain types of crimes.

The Department actively maintains business and creative ties with the branch divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the National Police, and other leading educational and scientific institutions in the areas of improving the educational process, preparing substantiated proposals on topical issues of scientific and pedagogical activity, as evidenced by the received acts of implementation from the Main Investigation Department of the National Police, the National Scientific Center “Bokarius Institute of Forensic Expertise” of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

For many years, theDepartment Criminalistics, Forensic Science and Pre-Medical Training of the Institute of Education and Research 1 has been organizing work to attract gifted youth to participate in research activities as part of a scientific club, led by Associate Professor of the Department, Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor O. Makarova. The number of members of the club is constantly updated, and every year new people appear who want to master the knowledge and skills necessary for the work of a police officer.

Educational and methodical work

The department conducts educational activities aimed at training specialists in educational and professional programs of the first (bachelor's), second (master's) and third (educational and scientific) levels of higher education in the fields of knowledge 08 “Law”, specialty 081 “Law”, 26 “Civil Security”, specialty 262 “Law Enforcement”, 12 “Information Technology”, specialty 125 “Cybersecurity and Information Protection”, 07 “Management and Administration”, specialty 071 “Accounting and Taxation”, etc.

Disciplines taught at the Department:

1. Criminalistics;
2. Pre-medical training;
3. Criminalistics means and methods of investigation of criminal offenses;
4. Methods of investigation of criminal offenses in the field of trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues or precursors;
5. Methods of investigating criminal offenses;
6. Methods of investigating criminal offenses related to human trafficking and illegal migration;
7. Directions of development of the science of criminalistics;
8. Fundamentals of criminalistics;
9. Forensic science;
10. Modern doctrines of criminalistics;
11. Modern doctrines of forensic science.

Disciplines taught at the Department:

1. Police actions at the scene of an incident;
2. Pre-medical training;
3. Methods of investigation of certain criminal offenses;
4. Narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their analogues. Signs of drug intoxication;
5. Fundamentals of forensic science.

The practical orientation of the educational process is ensured by the existing material and technical base in the form of a specialized training facility - a forensic training ground, equipped with special equipment for detecting the fixation and removal of various objects (physical traces, traces of biological origin, etc.).

When conducting training sessions, the department actively uses modern methods of teaching academic disciplines. As an example, we are talking about quest technologies that allow to increase the professional awareness of future investigators by fully immersing them in the storyline in the relevant area of service. In addition, employees of practical units, including those who until recently worked at the Department and now head practical units, are constantly involved in conducting classroom classes by the scientific and pedagogical representatives of the Department, including: B. A. Burbelo, T. A. Savchuk and others.

Organizational work

The staff of the Department regularly conducts educational (supervisory) work with the cadets of the Educational and Research Institute No. 1, as well as career guidance and activities to improve the level of legal culture with students of secondary schools, colleges and other educational institutions.

Representatives of the department constantly improve their professional competence by participating in thematic trainings, webinars, seminars on specialization, etc. conducted by higher education institutions, research institutions, expert institutions, etc.

Contact information:
Email: [email protected]
Address: 27 Lev Landau Ave. in Kharkiv, Ukraine