The governments of the United States, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom have released a joint statement marking the first anniversary of the Tallinn Mechanism. This initiative was established to coordinate international support for civilian cybersecurity in Ukraine amidst ongoing cyber threats from Russia.
"Ukraine has withstood Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion for over 1000 days," states the release. It highlights that cyberattacks are now a fundamental aspect of modern warfare and stresses the importance of cybersecurity in maintaining societal resilience. Despite these challenges, Ukraine has managed to keep its digital infrastructure operational with help from international allies.
The Tallinn Mechanism was launched a year ago by several countries including Canada and European nations to bolster Ukraine's cyber defenses. The European Union and NATO have been observers since its inception. The mechanism aims to protect critical infrastructure through enhanced cyber defense capabilities by leveraging expertise from both public and private sectors.
"The Tallinn Mechanism is using world class cyber and digital expertise...to protect critical national infrastructure," according to the statement. Support provided includes hardware and software solutions against malicious activities as well as training for cybersecurity officials. Additionally, there is an emphasis on meeting Ukraine's need for satellite communication terminals.
Since its creation, over $210 million in foreign assistance has been accumulated to strengthen Ukraine's ability to counter Russian cyber aggression. The statement emphasizes that this support will continue "for as long as it takes."
The joint statement concludes by condemning Russia's actions in cyberspace as reckless and irresponsible. It affirms that the countries involved remain committed to supporting Ukraine during this conflict and beyond.
