Latvia and Ukraine sign a letter of intent on support regarding the establishment of a regional cybersecurity center in Ukraine

Strengthening cooperation between Latvia and Ukraine, Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds and the Head of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine Oleksandr Potii signed a letter of intent on cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine in the establishment of a regional cybersecurity center in Ukraine. 

“Latvia and Ukraine are partners not only in ensuring security today, but also in building joint resilience in the future. The establishment of a cybersecurity center in Ukraine will strengthen the country's capabilities to respond to cyber threats more quickly and effectively, while also allowing Latvia to take over Ukraine's unique experience in the fight against attacks carried out by the aggressor in cyberspace. Our security is closely linked, therefore, an investment in Ukraine's cyber defense is also an investment in the security of Latvia and the entire region,” emphasizes Minister of Defense A. Sprūds.

The aim of the cooperation project is to promote the decentralization of Ukraine's cyber defense capabilities, thereby strengthening the ability of Ukrainian institutions responsible for cybersecurity to respond to existing cyber threats. Given that the threat actors supported by Russia that Ukraine and Latvia face in cyberspace are the same, this in turn means an opportunity for Latvia to learn from the Ukrainian experience in identifying and preventing these threats.

The cooperation project envisages Latvia's support in the establishment of a Regional Cybersecurity Center with a Security Operations Center component in one of the regions of Ukraine. 

It has already been reported that, based on the request of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense provided financial support for the organization of the Kyiv International Cyber Resilience Forum for the second year in a row. Within the framework of the Forum, representatives of the Latvian National Cybersecurity Center shared Latvia's experience in securing the infrastructure of information and communication technologies and international cooperation in threat hunting operations, as well as organized a practical training workshop for Ukrainian technical experts regarding the execution of threat hunting operations. Representatives of the Latvian National Cybersecurity Center also met with Ukrainian cybersecurity experts, discussing opportunities for further strengthening practical cooperation between Latvia and Ukraine in the field of cybersecurity. 

The aforementioned cooperation activities demonstrate Latvia's unwavering support for Ukraine, as well as Latvia's commitment to strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities and resilience, including in the field of cybersecurity. The agreement on support in the establishment of a Regional Cybersecurity Center serves as a clear example of strengthening practical cooperation between Latvia and Ukraine.

In August 2024, in Ukraine, Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds met with then Head of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, Yuriy Myronenko, signing a memorandum of understanding between the two countries in the field of cybersecurity. By signing the memorandum, a legal framework was created to promote 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 made it possible to promote the exchange of information between Latvia and Ukraine on cyber threats, as well as to establish bilateral communication channels with the aim of improving reporting on cyber incidents and promoting mutual experience exchange. The memorandum of understanding also provides for cooperation in the fields of education, research, development and innovation, the organization of joint public events, as well as the implementation of other cooperation activities.

Information prepared by:
MoD Military Public Affairs Department
Media Relations Section
Phone: 67335210
E-mail: prese@mod.gov.lv