Cyberspace: Training of Ukrainian ITInformationstechnik administrators

The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is a demonstration of how modern methods of warfare are combined with tried and tested ones. Cyberattacks, for example, have become an integral part of the Russian strategy. For this reason, the European training mission EUMAM UAEuropean Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine includes ITInformationstechnik administrator training for Ukrainian service personnel.

Destroyed cities, minefields, trenches – the ramifications of the war have scarred the country and its people. Not every attack, however, leaves marks that are visible immediately. Some happen silently and go almost unnoticed by the outside world, even though sometimes their aftermath extends beyond national borders. In cyberspace, Ukrainian men and women in uniform are fighting every day to sustain the military’s command and control capability, to protect secret data and to prevent attacks on critical infrastructure.

Following the annexation of Crimea in February 2014, Russia already ramped up the number of cyberattacks against Ukrainian networks. Ukraine has since managed to considerably strengthen the security and resilience of crucial networks with the support of civilian and military partners. Even though these measures have helped to ward off numerous cyberattacks, these attacks continue to pose a serious threat. Military networks may not only be used to spy out sensitive data but also to disrupt important communication channels. Since the start of the EU training mission EUMAM UAEuropean Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine, Ukrainian soldiers have been regularly sent to Germany to be trained by Bundeswehr ITInformationstechnik experts.

About the training mission: EUMAM UAEuropean Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine of the European Union is part of the support package for Ukraine for its fight against the Russian aggression. The task is to train Ukrainian armed forces to strengthen the country’s defence capability and sustainability. EUMAM UAEuropean Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine was decided by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 17 October 2022. It is the first training mission on European soil. The 24 European participating nations are planning to provide initial and follow-on training for approximately 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers by the end of 2024.