Ukraine Moves to Create Cyber Forces, Approves Overseas Navy Missions

Overview

• Lawmakers backed draft law No. 12349 in its first reading to establish Cyber Forces within the Armed Forces, with 255 votes in favor, 2 against, and 19 abstentions.
• The proposal tasks the new formation with building cyber-deterrence, conducting operations across cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum, and securing battlefield advantage.
• The structure would operate under the Commander-in-Chief, with political coordination by the president, and it formalizes periodic training for cyber reservists.
• Cyber reservists could be temporarily engaged based on skills and motivation without automatically acquiring military servicemember status.
• The Rada also approved a presidential decree to send the corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa to Turkey and five mine-countermeasure ships plus a divisional headquarters to the United Kingdom to support national defense and facilitate equipment transfers.