One of the objectives of Directive (EU) 2020/2184 is to assess the amount of water leakage in water supply systems (WSS) and to reduce it if it exceeds a certain threshold. The Directive is binding on water supply companies supplying at least 10,000 m³/d or serving at least 50,000 consumers. The problem of water losses due to, among other things, aging infrastructure currently requires appropriate action to be taken by WSS management companies. This paper discusses the problem of water losses in the Visegrad Group countries and the challenges and opportunities associated with it. In order to analyze the problem, a bibliometric analysis of the state of knowledge was performed. The results of the literature review present the current directions of research on this topic in the V4 countries as former communist bloc countries. The strengths and weaknesses identified in the paper can be used to plan water loss reduction by water supply companies, researchers, and legislators.

Problem statement. The article examines the changes in the legislation of European countries and in Poland in particular regarding civil protection in the wake of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Today, there is a question of protecting the population during military operations. It has become clear that the civil protection of the population of each country should be reassessed and implemented in the light of wartime in the current war. Purpose of work is the analyse changes in the conduct of civil protection in European countries, the organization of civil protection in European countries, which is connected with possible Russian aggression against other European countries, the priority of protecting civilians. Summary of the main material. The protection of civilians is a key aspect of warfare and an ethical and strategic imperative in all types of conflicts, from hybrid warfare to counterinsurgency and large-scale military operations in which the enemy may use tactics aimed at harming civilians (as is currently the case in the war in Ukraine). The article examines the concept of crisis management in Poland and shows how and where modern laboratories conduct training in the crisis management system. This will increase the safety of rescue/special services and their components, including rescuers/soldiers and vehicles. Conclusions. The study of problems that concern primarily the economic sector of each country, mainly – energy security, which Russia showed during the war in Ukraine, reducing the country’s energy resources. Russia’s goal in Central and Eastern Europe is to destabilize the regions, destroy the unity of the EU and NATO, and, in a broader sense, change the world security architecture. Therefore, the foundation of the security of European countries, and Poland in particular, is allied guarantees of the security of all civilized countries, as well as focusing efforts on increasing the defence potential of countries and effective protection and preparation of the population for the possible consequences of military conflicts.