The Ukrainian Defense Forces discussed the issue of creating Cyber Forces as a separate branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on this.

Representatives of the military, MPs from the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Security, Defense, and Intelligence, as well as experts joined the discussion of the draft concept.

Lieutenant General Anatoliy Barhylevych, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, chaired the working meeting.

It is reported that the meeting participants reviewed the main provisions of creating the Cyber Force, considering the experience of creating and operating cyber forces in the leading countries of the world.

In addition, they analyzed the experience of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in cyberspace during the repulsion of the Russian Federation’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine.

They also identified the main tasks and functions of the Cyber Forces in accordance with the distribution of powers between the components of the security and defense sector regarding actions in cyberspace.

The General Staff emphasized that creating the Cyber Forces as a separate branch of the armed forces would significantly enhance the capabilities of the Ukrainian army.

It will also ensure effective planning and implementation of the full range of tasks in cyberspace, which, along with land, sea, air, and space, is recognized as a separate operational domain.

In early October, the Ministry of Defense established the Cyber Incident Response Center, a new separate structural unit responsible for cyber defense.

The center’s personnel will monitor and respond to cyber incidents around the clock. Prior to that, the cybersecurity team operated at the Ministry of Defense’s Innovation Center. The separation into a special structural unit will allow expanding the area of responsibility in this area.

The main tasks of the Center will be to respond to cyber incidents and cyber attacks, eliminate their consequences and take measures to protect the information and communication systems of the Ministry of Defense.