The protection of critical infrastructure is one of the most important needs for modern society’s security, and Ukraine serves as a model for the rest of Europe. Modern critical infrastructure is inextricably linked to electricity and software, both of which are important targets for an aggressor state that employs a wide range of tactics.

“Instead of focussing solely on directly critical infrastructure last year, attackers increasingly targeted supply chains, compromising specialised software suppliers and developers. This approach enables the enemy to remain undetected and gain access to critical systems via less secure supply chains,” explained Brigadier General Oleksandr Potii, Head of Ukraine’s State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection (SSSCIP), who also presented the Crisis Research Centre with a newly published analytical report summarising Ukraine’s defensive cyber activities.

“After more than a decade of war, we’ve seen how important it is to protect critical infrastructure, whether it’s transport hubs or power plants. This is significant because modern societies are extremely vulnerable to power outages and other essential services,” said Hannes Nagel, head of the Crisis Research Centre. Mr Nagel accepted a commemorative coin from Oleksandr Potii, Head of Ukraine’s State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection, on behalf of the Crisis Research Centre, symbolising the start of cooperation between the organisations.