Ukraine's partners launch Tallinn Mechanism to amplify cyber support

Almost a dozen international partners announced on Wednesday the launch of a new system called the Tallinn Mechanism to amplify cyber support for Ukraine in the years to come.

The mechanism, named after the Estonian capital where the plan was formulated in May, is launched just days after British military intelligence described a cyberattack on Ukraine’s Kyivstar as “one of the highest-impact disruptive cyberattacks” since the invasion began.

Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine itself, as well as the United Kingdom and United States have all pledged to participate.

In an announcement on the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website, the coalition warned: “Unfortunately, it is likely that Russia’s cyberattacks will continue for the foreseeable future.”

“As a result of Russia's unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, the Tallinn Mechanism … aims to coordinate and facilitate civilian cyber capacity building to help Ukraine uphold its fundamental right to self-defence in cyber space, and address longer-term cyber resilience needs.”

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It acknowledges “that the ongoing destruction of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and the disruption of essential services caused by Russian cyber operations will require substantial multi-year assistance for Ukraine to maintain and strengthen its cybersecurity and cyber resilience capabilities,” and warns that “Russian cyber operations and cyber activity are expected to continue well beyond any formal cessation of hostilities.”

The mechanism intends to address what has historically been the ad hoc basis in which states have provided assistance to Ukraine, but is separate to the military cyber capacity-building efforts that Western nations are also supporting.

“With the Mechanism, Ukraine’s needs will be systemised and matched to the possibilities of donors in such a way that support from various countries forms a coherent whole,” the announcement stated.

Alongside member states the Tallinn Mechanism involves technology companies and non-governmental organizations, as well regular engagement with the European Union and NATO.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe, the U.K.’s lead minister for its conflict stability and security fund, said: “The UK and Ukraine are fighting side by side in the cyberwar against Russia whose appalling attacks know no bounds. Russia is attacking Ukraine’s cyber infrastructure in order to harm innocent people, choke the economy and sow confusion.

“That is why the UK is supporting Ukraine with state of the art technology, tools and expertise to thwart these cruel attacks, including those on critical infrastructure. Our support remains steadfast.”