On October 9, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted in favor of draft law No. 12349, establishing the Cyber Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The bill passed with 255 votes in support. It provides for the creation of a cyber reserve, defines the functions of cyber defense, and outlines subordination to the Commander-in-Chief. The news was announced by MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak.

Key Provisions

• The law defines the legal status and core principles of the Cyber Forces, which will be responsible for planning and executing military cyber defense operations, as well as protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in cyberspace.
• The Cyber Forces will be part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reporting directly to the Commander-in-Chief, and at the political level — to the President of Ukraine.
• Under the new law, the Cyber Forces will be able to recruit cyber reservists — civilian specialists with the skills required for cyber operations who are not formal military members.
• In 2025, the Cyber Forces will receive UAH 14 million in funding from the general defense budget. Financial compensation for Cyber Forces personnel will be 1.8 times higher than the base salaries of other Armed Forces members, with additional bonuses for participation in cyber operations.

Core Tasks of the Cyber Forces

1. Planning and conducting military cyber defense operations to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty in cyberspace
2. Ensuring cyber protection and cybersecurity across electronic systems used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine
3. Preparing and executing military cyber operations in the electromagnetic spectrum
4. Cooperating with NATO and other international defense organizations in the field of cyber defense

The draft law No. 12349 «On the Cyber Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine» was originally registered in parliament in December 2024.