Ukraine begins to build critical infrastructure security system in line with int'l practices - State Special Communications Service

MOSCOW. April 24 (Interfax) - The creation of a system to protect critical infrastructure in line with the best international practices and the current requirements of European legislation is getting underway in Ukraine, deputy head of the Ukrainian State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection Alexander Potiy said at a panel discussion on protecting critical infrastructure during the upcoming reconstruction of the energy sector.

Ukraine is studying EU Directives NIS 2 (EU 2022/2555) and RCE (EU 2022/2557) on safeguarding critical infrastructure and is cooperating with those countries that have already started implementing them, Ukrainian media has quoted Potiy as saying based on the information published on the website of the State Special Communications Service (SSCS). Potiy said Ukraine is also fruitfully collaborating with the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), with which the SSCS has signed a cooperation memorandum and conducted an exercise.

"Ukraine has compiled sectoral lists of critical infrastructure facilities (CIFs). The Ukrainian government will shortly adopt a resolution to approve the procedure for maintaining the Register of Critical Infrastructure. The emergence of the register will be an important step in coordinating the security of the CIFs," the statement said.

The competent authorities will be involved in responding to crises related to the security and stability of critical infrastructure, for example, the Ukrainian Armed Forces will mitigate the effects of missile attacks, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) will counter acts of sabotage, and the State Special Communications Service will tackle cyber-attacks, it said. The relevant authority will coordinate the activities of the entities of the national security system, will draft and enforce the state policy in the field of critical infrastructure security, and will be responsible for the critical infrastructure in the government.

"We need to analyze the risks and threats and submit this information to the Ukrainian government and the National Security and Defense Council, so that they undertake the required planning, including the budgetary and other planning," Potiy said.

The panel discussion took place as part of the EUROSCOPE project, which examines Ukraine's progress towards EU membership.