Transport and logistics system of Ukraine is a circulatory system of the economy. In the conditions of war, it plays a vital role in the delivery of humanitarian, social, food, energy, and, above all, military aid to Ukraine. The ability of the national transport network to provide reliable just-in-time shipment of goods in the required quantity to the end consumers and the interoperability level of the national and European transport systems today are the factors influencing the risk formation processes on a global scale. The war in Ukraine has brought about rapid changes in shipping and logistics, as well as in the structure and volume of international and transit cargo flows. In 2019-2021, about 20-25% of cargo transportation by road transport in international traffic was carried out through the territory of russia and belarus; more than two-thirds of goods crossing (in physical terms) the customs border of Ukraine were sold through sea checkpoints. However, in 2022, compared to the previous year, the number of vehicles that crossed the customs border of Ukraine with EU countries has increased by 21%, especially with Romania - by 64%. Automobile transport became the leader in terms of the volume of imports brought into the country, and railway transport took the second place. The rapid growth in the volume of rail and road freight transportation to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania has significantly increased the burden on the transport and border infrastructure of the border regions of Ukraine. In such conditions, the available capacity of the transport and logistics infrastructure in the Ukraine-EU cross-border space proved to be insufficient. Therefore, the article offers a methodical approach to the analysis of the logistics and transport infrastructure of the border regions of Ukraine, taking into account the peculiarities and prospects of its operation at the international (European), national, and regional levels. The components of the logistics and transport infrastructure are defined, and the integral indices of the logistics and transport infrastructure are calculated. Ways of efficient realization of the capacity and the development of the transport and logistics infrastructure of the border regions of Ukraine are suggested. 

logistics and transport infrastructure, methodical approach, border regions, Ukraine, European Union 

In the Western region of Ukraine, where the shares of rural population and rural areas are comparatively high, the problems of socio-economic development have common features, therefore they require to be determined and analyzed in order to ensure an effective realization of the existing potential.

The purpose of the article is to analyze current state, trends and prospects of development of socio-demographic potential in rural areas of Western region of Ukraine.

The rural population of Western Ukraine has been reducing since the achievement of independence. The proportion of age structure has changed insignificantly in the last 12 years (2000-2012). In 2012, age group of 15-64 years remained the largest. At the same time, population under 15 years has been declining.

It should be noted that the decrease rate of the economically inactive population under 15 years of age is higher compared to the age group of over 65 years old. There is a strong possibility in short-term perspective that burden on people of working age will be increasing due to growth of the share of elderly people and absence of positive growth rates of youth.

The problems of forming the educational level of the population and medical care in rural areas have been outlined in the article. Coverage of the population with preschool and secondary education has been estimated, the problem of staff development in rural areas has been emphasized upon, and provision of primary care in rural areas has been reviewed. Employment and unemployment rates in rural areas have been analyzed. In particular, employment rate of the rural population in the Western region varies and common trend hasn’t been observed. As to unemployment rate in rural areas, in 2012 only three oblasts (Ivano-Frankivska, Lvivska, and Ternopilska oblasts) had this figure below the average national level.

Realization of socio-demographic potential of rural areas in Western Ukraine requires a comprehensive approach that will include the following main directions: 1) ensuring the development of agriculture as a priority economic activity and its transformation to market oriented; 2) activization of non-agricultural activities; 3) modernization of industrial and social infrastructure, ensuring not only quantitative growth of infrastructural objects, but also improvement of their and the quality of their services; 4) transformation of the rural population mentality through education and information policy in order to increase initiative and active participation in economic and social life on the territory of their residence. 

demographic indicators, education level, healthcare, employment, rural areas, Western region of Ukraine 

The current social infrastructure of rural territories of Carpathian region is presented. Tendencies concerning the network of different spheres of social infrastructure of the rural settlements are analyzed; respective conclusions and prospects of further functioning are drawn. Decline of social infrastructure in Carpathian villages is defined as threat of competitiveness for the whole region. The development of ecological tourism as a way of rural areas’ competitiveness improvement is suggested for further research. 

social infrastructure, rural territories, Carpathian region, competitiveness