**Ukraine and EU Deepen Cybersecurity Cooperation**
As Russian hybrid attacks on Ukraine continue to rise, Ukraine and the European Union have taken steps to strengthen their cooperation in cybersecurity. On Tuesday, Ukraine and Europe’s cybersecurity agencies signed a memorandum of understanding at the Kyiv International Cyber Resilience Forum.
The agreement aims to support joint research, innovation, and EU-funded projects in cross-border cybersecurity. Despite facing participation restrictions as a non-EU member, Ukraine hopes the memorandum will help bring the two closer together in the field of cybersecurity.
**Russian Hybrid Attacks on the Rise**
Russian hybrid operations in Europe are becoming more frequent and aggressive, with 20 government, military, and intelligence officials from 10 countries citing an increased Russian risk appetite. NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber James Appathurai told the EBU Investigative Journalism Network that Russian cyber and hybrid attacks on Ukraine and European partners are a threat to the safety of citizens.
**Ukraine Hopes for EU Funding**
Ukraine hopes to participate in EU-funded programs, including incident response, through the EU’s Cyber Solidarity Act. Ukrainian government institutions, universities, and businesses also expect to benefit from EU funding. The memorandum signed this week is seen as a framework agreement enabling both sides to begin practical cooperation.
**Reforming Cybersecurity Laws**
In November 2023, Ukraine signed an agreement with the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA). This required special approval from the European Commission and demonstrates that Europe expects Ukraine to deepen its cybersecurity cooperation. As part of this partnership, Ukraine collaborates with ENISA on cybersecurity threats and meets regularly with the European side to exchange threat analytics.
**Aligning Legislation with EU Standards**
Ukraine is updating its 2021 cybersecurity strategy to align with European standards as part of its EU accession process. This includes adopting European best practices and developing a new strategy taking these requirements into account. Ukraine’s cybersecurity agency is auditing its current strategies, with a draft of the new strategy aligned with European standards expected within this year or next.
**Establishing Cyber Troops**
Ukraine is working on establishing cyber troops, which would conduct offensive or counter-offensive cyber operations to protect critical infrastructure and prevent Russian hacker attacks. This plan existed before Russia’s invasion but priorities shifted due to the war.
