Ukraine’s parliament has approved, in its first reading, a bill to create a Cyber Forces command within the armed forces, underscoring the growing strategic importance of cyberspace in Kyiv’s defense against Russia. The draft law, passed on October 9, 2025, with the support of 255 lawmakers, would establish a standalone military command responsible for the country’s cyberspace defense and operations.
According to the explanatory note accompanying the bill, the Cyber Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine would protect military and state information systems and respond to cyber-attacks. They would also conduct military cyber operations, gather intelligence, hunt threats in cyberspace, and defend military systems while developing secure infrastructure for the Armed Forces.[1]
The proposed branch would report directly to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, and ultimately be under the overall command of the President as Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Personnel would be drawn from mobilized service members and transfers from existing units.
Kyiv plans to allocate 14 million hryvnias (about US$336,000) in 2025 to establish the new branch. The bill also envisages the creation of a cyber reserve, a roster of civilian technology experts who could be called on to assist without formally joining the military. Supporters say the Cyber Forces will help align Ukraine’s defenses more closely with NATO standards as the country pursues membership.
Ukraine has carried out cyber operations against Russia since the 2022 full-scale invasion, ranging from volunteer “hacktivist” activity to complex missions run by military intelligence (HUR) and the security service (SBU). The country has not previously had a formally established military branch expressly empowered to conduct offensive, destructive cyber operations against an adversary’s military infrastructure.
Some might consider the creation of a dedicated Cyber Force as late, following nearly four years of conflict. But not all Parliamentary deputies were immediately convinced of the need for separate Cyber Forces, noting that the military already maintains a Signals and Cybersecurity Troop focused on securing communications.
The idea of forming a dedicated Cyber Force has been discussed since 2021 but was only formally tabled in 2024, with disagreements contributing to the delays. The bill must pass a second reading in parliament and be signed by the president before becoming law.
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[1] https://www.cybersecurityintelligence.com/blog/ukraine-moves-to-establish-a-military-cyber-force-8801.html
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