Latvia and Ukraine agree to cooperate on establishment of a regional cybersecurity center

RIGA - Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) and Oleksandr Potii, head of Ukraine’s State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection, have signed a letter of intent regarding cooperation on the establishment of a regional cybersecurity center in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense informed LETA.

The establishment of a cybersecurity center in Ukraine will strengthen the country’s ability to respond more quickly and effectively to cyber threats, while also allowing Latvia to learn from Ukraine’s unique experience in combating attacks carried out by an aggressor in the cyberspace, Spruds said.

The goal of the cooperation project is to facilitate the decentralization of Ukraine’s cyber defense capabilities, thereby ensuring that Ukrainian institutions responsible for cybersecurity can respond more effectively to existing cyber threats.

Given that both Ukraine and Latvia face cyber threats linked to Russia, this will provide Latvia with an opportunity to learn from Ukraine’s experience in identifying and mitigating these threats, explains the Ministry of Defense.

The cooperation project provides for Latvia’s support in establishing a regional cybersecurity center with a security operations center component in one of Ukraine’s regions.

In August 2024, Spruds, while in Ukraine, met with Yuriy Mirorenko, then head of Ukraine’s State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection, and signed a memorandum of understanding between the two countries in the field of cybersecurity.

The signing of the memorandum established a legal framework for promoting mutual cooperation between Latvia and Ukraine, ensuring the use of technical and human resources specifically in the field of cyber defense.

The signing of the memorandum has facilitated the exchange of information between Latvia and Ukraine regarding cyber threats, as well as the establishment of bilateral communication channels aimed at improving reporting on cyber incidents and fostering the mutual exchange of experience, according to the Ministry of Defense. The memorandum of understanding also provides for cooperation in the fields of education, research, development, and innovation; the organization of joint public events; and the implementation of other cooperative activities.