February 1, 2026 Ukraine’s first law regulating the use of artificial intelligence in academia has gone into effect. We’ll take a closer look at how this will affect research and what every researcher needs to know.
A Historic Milestone for Ukrainian Science
On January 29, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Law No. 4742-IX “On Academic Integrity,” which was based on Bill No. 10392. This isn't just another document on ethics—it's the first law in Ukraine (and one of the first in Europe) that clearly defines the rules for using artificial intelligence in academic work.
The law took effect on February 1, 2026—and as of that date, every researcher, instructor, and student is required to comply with the new rules.
What Is "Unethical Use of AI"?
The law introduces a new concept: “unethical use of artificial intelligence results” — and classifies it as a distinct type of academic misconduct, on par with plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and data fabrication.
This means that the use of AI is now regulated just as strictly as the use of others' texts without citations.
Three Golden Rules for Using AI
The law sets forth clear requirements for those who use artificial intelligence in academic work:
1. Transparency in Use
It is essential to specify the AI methods and tools that were used.
This means that you must clearly specify:
- What specific AI tools did you use (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, specialized research assistants, etc.)? ;
- For what specific tasks did you use them? ;
- At what stage of the work was AI used? .
Example of correct notation:
“The artificial intelligence system Claude (Anthropic, version 3.5) was used for the initial literature search and to outline the structure of the review, helping to organize more than 150 sources into thematic categories. The final analysis of the literature and the writing of the text were performed by the author independently.”
2. Required reference
When using text generated by artificial intelligence, this must be clearly indicated with a reference to the relevant program or methodology.
Key point: results generated by computer programs (including AI), cannot be considered copyrighted, unless their use is otherwise specified.
Example of correct formatting in the text:
“Key trends in the use of machine learning in medicine include disease diagnosis, personalized medicine, and epidemic forecasting [generated using ChatGPT-4, OpenAI, 2024, with subsequent verification by the author using the following sources: Smith et al., 2023; Johnson, 2024].”
3. Justification for Use
Students are required to clearly justify their use of assistive technology or aids, including AI.
It's not enough to simply say that you used AI—you need to explain, Why and for what purpose. This is especially important for dissertations, theses, and research articles.
Example of a rationale (section “Methodology”):
“The use of AI to analyze large text datasets (more than 10,000 documents) was justified, since manually processing such a volume of information within the available research timeframe would have been impossible. AI was used exclusively for initial categorization and pattern recognition; all results were verified by the author through spot-checking and statistical analysis.”
AI vs. Plagiarism: What Are the Differences and Similarities?
Similarity in the consequences
Both plagiarism and the unethical use of AI are now subject to the same legal consequences. This means that if you submit text generated by ChatGPT as your own without disclosing this fact, it is equivalent to copying someone else's article.
The Key Difference
Plagiarism — this is the act of claiming someone else's work (a text written by another person) as one's own.
Unethical Use of AI — this is claiming authorship of a machine-generated text without disclosing that fact.
Both cases have one thing in common: You are passing off as your own something that is not the result of your intellectual labor.
What is considered a violation?
Violations:
- Submitting text generated entirely or partially by AI as one's own without attribution;
- Using AI to write sections of a paper without clearly disclosing this fact;
- Generating research conclusions using AI without verification or specifying the method;
- The use of AI to write reviews, testimonials, and expert opinions without disclosing this fact.
Permitted:
- The use of AI as a supporting tool, with this fact clearly stated;
- The use of AI for technical tasks (formatting, grammar checking, translation) with appropriate attribution;
- The use of AI for data analysis with a transparent methodology and verification of results;
- Generating ideas and work structures using AI, followed by independent development.
Penalties for Violations: From Students to Professors
For students (undergraduates, master's students, and doctoral candidates):
Penalties for the misuse of AI:
- A verbal or written warning;
- Retaking the assignment or assessment;
- Revocation of scholarships and benefits;
- Prohibition on participation in academic mobility competitions and programs;
- Tuition Deductions (in the event of serious or repeated violations).
Particularly critical:
- Violations during the entrance exams = disqualification from the admissions process;
- If violations are discovered after enrollment = expulsion;
- If irregularities are discovered in a thesis or dissertation after the defense, the diploma or degree will be revoked.
For faculty and researchers:
Academic sanctions:
- Warning;
- Prohibition on directing research projects;
- Prohibition on participating in grants, competitions, and performance evaluations;
- Restrictions on professional activities;
- Removal from collegial bodies (academic councils, expert commissions).
Disciplinary actions:
- Warning, reprimand;
- Dismissal from office in the event of systematic violations.
The most serious consequences:
- Withdrawal or rejection of a publication;
- Revocation of Academic Degrees and Titles, if they were awarded on the basis of work involving the improper use of AI or plagiarism;
- Inclusion in the Register of Violators for one year (during that year, the individual is ineligible to apply for teaching or academic titles).
For educational and research institutions:
If an institution consistently fails to address violations of academic integrity:
- Institutional audits;
- Revocation of permits;
- As a last resort— loss of a license or accreditation.
The heads of educational and research institutions are responsible for personal responsibility for the operation of academic integrity systems.
How to Use AI Properly: Practical Recommendations
Step 1: Determine your institution's position
The first thing you need to do is find out whether your educational or research institution allows the use of AI, and if so, under what conditions.
Educational and research institutions are required to:
- Have an internal system for ensuring academic integrity;
- Approve internal policies and procedures regarding the use of AI;
- Establish authorized bodies to investigate violations.
Action: Please contact the instructional support department, the educational quality department, or the research office at your institution to inquire about the policy on the use of AI.
Step 2: Document the use of AI
Create a separate section or appendix in your paper where you:
- List all the AI tools that were used;
- Describe the specific tasks for which each tool was used;
- Please explain why the use of AI was appropriate;
- Please explain how you verified the results.
Example of the structure of the section “Using AI Support Tools”:
Tools and Methods:
- ChatGPT-4 (OpenAI, 2024) — for an initial search and organization of literature sources related to the research topic;
- Grammarly AI — for checking the grammar of English-language sections;
- QuillBot — for paraphrasing quotes while writing a literature review.
Step 3: Humanize the text generated by AI
Even if you use AI to write individual sections of text or as a tool to help you formulate ideas, Do not submit the generated text as-is.
What to do:
Option 1: Transcribe by hand (most reliable)
- Use the generated text as a starting point or source of inspiration;
- Rephrase it in your own words;
- Add your own examples, insights, and reflections;
- Adapt it to your academic writing style;
- Integrate your own knowledge of the subject.
Option 2: Use text humanization tools
There are specialized programs for “humanizing” AI-generated text:
Option 3: A combined approach (the most effective)
- Generate text using AI;
- Run it through the humanization tool;
- Manually edit the result — Add your personal style, your own thoughts, and specific details from your research;
- Make the text unique and authentic.
Register of Violators: Public Accountability
The law provides for the establishment of Register of Individuals Subject to Restrictions for Violations of Academic Integrity.
What does that mean?
- Information about the violation is made public;
- Confidence in educational documents and academic degrees is growing;
- A "reputation history" for the researcher is being created;
- Employees listed in the registry are not eligible to apply for teaching or academic titles during the year.
Who is included in the registry?
Individuals who:
- Academic sanctions were imposed for serious violations;
- Stripped of their academic degrees or academic titles;
- The publications were retracted due to misconduct.
The duration of inclusion in the registry is at least one year from the date the sanctions were imposed.
Why This Law Is a Historic Event
Law No. 10392 “On Academic Integrity” has no equivalent in European countries in terms of regulating the use of AI at the legislative level.
Ukraine is among the world's leaders
Ukraine became one of the first countries to:
- Legislatively defined the status of AI in academic work;
- Established clear limits on permitted use;
- She equated the unethical use of AI with plagiarism;
- It established oversight and sanction mechanisms.
Purposes of the Act:
- Improving the quality of education and science in Ukraine;
- Establishment of ethical standards in the academic community;
- Strengthening public confidence in the results of educational and scientific activities;
- Increasing confidence in Ukrainian degrees and academic works on the international stage.
⚠️ Important: Double deadline for researchers
The new law on academic integrity is not the only change affecting Ukrainian researchers in 2026.
The following have also recently come into effect New Requirements for Category “B” Professional Publications, according to which all current professional publications are valid only by June 1, 2026. After this date, publications will be accepted only from journals that have passed the new accreditation process.
What this means for you:
- If you plan to defend your thesis or undergo certification by the end of 2026, you must publish NOW;
- Publication in Category B journals takes 2–4 months—there’s very little time left;
- It is important to choose a publication that will definitely pass the new certification and won't cause any problems.
Our AI bot will help you:
– Find a reputable Category B publication that’s a perfect fit for your topic
– Suggest publications with the best publication timelines
Scan the QR code or click the button below
More than 3,000 Ukrainian researchers have already used our AI bot, Leo, to find reputable Category B journals in their fields.
What's Next: Adapting to a New Reality
For researchers:
- Review internal policies Your organization's stance on AI;
- Master the rules documenting the use of AI;
- Review your current projects for compliance with the new requirements;
- Invest in Your Own Skills...so that AI remains a tool rather than a replacement for your work.
For educational institutions:
- Develop clear internal policies on the use of AI;
- Conduct training for all academic staff;
- Implement verification systems the misuse of AI;
- Create clear templates to document the use of AI.
For authors of scientific articles:
- Check the journal requirements, to which you are submitting articles (many international journals already have their own policies regarding AI);
- Be as transparent as possible in the description of the methodology;
- Indicate the use of AI even if it was used only minimally;
- Remember: A reputation takes years to build, but can be lost in an instant.
Conclusion: A New Era of Academic Integrity
The Law “On Academic Integrity” sets new ground rules for Ukrainian science and education in the age of artificial intelligence. These are not restrictions, but trust framework, which will enable Ukrainian scholars to confidently integrate into the global academic community.
Key points to remember:
- AI can be used — but only in a transparent manner and with clear disclosure;
- Unethical use of AI = plagiarism — the consequences are just as serious;
- Document everything — from tools to justifications for their use;
- Humanize the text generated by AI – Plagiarism-checking systems can easily detect AI-generated text;
Your intelligence is what matters most — AI is just a tool; it's not a substitute for your work.
The law took effect on February 1, 2026, and every piece of work submitted after that date must comply with the new requirements. This is no reason to panic—it’s a reason to finally learn how to work with AI correctly, ethically, and effectively.
