MP: More comments and suggestions may be added to draft law on AFU cyber forces

This was stated by eksandr Fedenko, a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, in a commentary to Ukrinform.

“Ukraine already has an approved strategy for the formation of cyber defense and cybersecurity, signed by the President. This document provides for the creation of apprriate cyber forces. Such an initiative was laid down in the previous strategy adted by the previous President and retained in the current version. However, at that time, the government failed to implement this initiative and did not submit relevant legislative prosals,” noted Fedenko.

The MP clarified that in order to fulfill this task, a year and a half ago, a working group was created on the basis of the relevant committee and in agreement with the government, which included all key stakehders: representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff, the Armed Forces, the Security Service, the State Special Communications Service, the Main Intelligence Directorate and other bodies.

“As a result of our joint work, the relevant draft law was develed. This initiative is extremely important because, unlike traditional wars, which end sooner or later, cyber warfare and pitical confrontation in the digital space are ongoing. Ukraine, having no nuclear potential or deterrence tos of its own, must devel alternative instruments,” the MP emphasized.

Fedenko reminded that in 2016, NATO officially recognized cyberspace as a separate domain of warfare. Cyberattacks were equated with the use of nuclear weapons as one of the key elements of deterrence.

“This confirms the correctness of the direction chosen by Ukraine. That is why our committee recommended the adtion of the relevant draft law, as we understand the relevance and importance of this initiative,” he emphasized.

As for when the draft law could be considered by the parliament, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Cyberspace Security noted that it is too early to talk about the imminent adtion of the document.

“Adtion of the draft law is a long process. Currently, the document is to be reviewed by the Main Legal Department and the Main Scientific and Expert Department, where experts can provide comments and suggestions,” Fedenko emphasized.

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Draft law No. 12349 provides for the creation of the Armed Forces Cyber Force as a military command and contr body that will be able to invve a civilian component (cyber reservists) for the period of relevant cyber deterrence measures.

The status of a cyber reservist does not require the mandatory acquisition of the status of a military serviceman to join the Cyber Forces, may be periodic and temporary, and is based on certain personal skills in a particular field and motivation.

The main tasks of the AFU Cyber Forces will be to build up and effectively use cyber deterrence capabilities, to gain military superiority over the enemy and to weaken its capabilities by conducting erations in the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace.