KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officials are pushing to enhance the country’s offensive cyber capabilities in response to increasing threats from Russia.
Serhii Demediuk, deputy secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, emphasized that Ukraine can no longer rely solely on defense and needs to fight back. He called on European partners to support these efforts, stating, “Russians only understand power. If we can’t push back, there will be no consequences for their actions.”
Demediuk distinguished between offensive cyberattacks, led by the military, and active defense, which aims to prevent attacks. He argued that law enforcement, rather than the military, should handle offensive operations to combat cybercrime effectively.
Experts believe Europe’s cybersecurity strategy needs both offensive and defensive capabilities to counter Russian threats. Legal issues around attribution and defining roles between civilian agencies and the military complicate proactive responses.
As Ukraine and Russia discuss a potential ceasefire, Kyiv officials are concerned that cyber operations will continue regardless of the outcome. “The budget freed from military actions will likely go toward cyber and information warfare,” said Natalia Tkachuk, head of cyber and information security at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council. “Europe must be ready.”
