Iryna Nesterova00:00, 26.04.25

Ukraine has become more vulnerable to Russian hacker attacks, the publication writes.

The United States has limited assistance to Ukraine in the field of cybersecurity, in particular in the ability to protect itself from Russian cyberattacks, writes Bloomberg .

The publication recalled that over the past five years, the United States Agency for International Development has allocated more than $200 million to Ukraine for cybersecurity assistance. The National Security Agency and the US Cyber ​​Command also provided assistance. Thanks to it, Ukraine managed to repel Russian cyberattacks on state resources, telecommunications companies, and power plants, as well as recover from attacks. 

Contracts with dozens of specialists who provided cybersecurity technical assistance at hundreds of sites across Ukraine have been canceled or suspended, eight people familiar with the situation told the publication. Also, planned deliveries of computer equipment and software intended to ensure the security of Ukraine’s infrastructure have not been implemented. 

When asked by the publication to comment on this situation, a representative of the US administration replied that all foreign aid programs are being reviewed for consistency with the priorities of US President Donald Trump.

According to Ukrainian cybersecurity expert Yegor Aushev, who organized a volunteer “cyber army” to counter Russian hackers, the reduction of Ukraine’s cybersecurity support will make it an “easy target” for Russia. The sudden and unannounced cessation of cyber operations, he said, “has created a serious problem.”

Another Ukrainian cybersecurity expert, Andriy Mankish, who previously worked on U.S.-funded projects to detect Russian hacking attempts, said the U.S. administration’s decision is likely to “affect our efforts and slow down progress in key areas.” He said long-planned cybersecurity projects have suddenly come to an end.

“Many projects were stopped halfway, contractors were fired without completing the work, and many plans did not have a chance to fully realize their potential,” Mankish explained.

As the publication reported, US funds have been Ukraine’s largest source of cybersecurity support. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, USAID funding for cybersecurity projects increased as Russian hackers stepped up their attempts to attack Ukrainian networks.

Some foreign governments — Canada, Britain, Japan — are trying to make up for the support the United States has withdrawn, four people said. But the scale of that support has been so great that it’s unlikely other governments will be able to match it, Bloomberg reported. Still, any increase in support is valuable, the sources said. Ukraine has also received support from the private sector, which is likely to continue.

(C)UNIAN 2025