Publication date:
Publication from:
At the end of February, Maria Shevchuk, Executive Director of the IT Ukraine Association, joined an expert discussion on franceinfo. The material focused on the cyber aspect of the war since the beginning of 2022, covering the evolution of russian attacks, Ukraine’s cyber defense strategy, and the roles of international partners in countering cyber threats.
On January 14, 2022, a month before the full-scale invasion of russia, Ukraine became the target of the first large-scale cyber attacks from the russian federation: around 70 government websites were “vandalized,” marking the first sign of impending cyberattacks on Ukrainian targets.
The cyber war with russia continues, with the enemy gradually shifting its strategy, moving from attacks on critical infrastructure to deeper penetration into information systems, aiming to disrupt the operation of various systems in Ukraine — from energy grids to government websites.
These attacks have taken various forms — from DDoS attacks that led to website failures to more complex attacks that harmed critical infrastructure. Initially, Ukraine lacked sufficient experience and resources to defend against such threats. However, thanks to close cooperation between the government and the private sector, as well as support from international partners, the defense was significantly strengthened.
The French outlet also highlights the role of companies such as SpaceX, which helped Ukraine maintain connectivity through the Starlink satellite network, and the contribution of American agencies and tech giants like Microsoft, Cisco, and Cloudflare in ensuring cybersecurity.
