Unleashing the Digital Arsenal: Lessons from Ukraine

Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper), Ukraine is known worldwide now not only for its heroic struggle for freedom and independence but also for its cutting-edge technologies. Before the big war started, the interaction between the state and citizens of Ukraine had been transferred to digital space. And what is most important, even a full-scale war did not stay out of the way. 

The ongoing digital transformation is expected to play a crucial role in Ukraine’s EU accession and post-war recovery while benefiting the European community with its digital innovations and unique experience.

The European Commission’s report on enlargement is to be released in the coming weeks. We are waiting for recommendations for Ukraine to start negotiations on joining the EU and an assessment of Ukraine’s digitalization efforts. After all, despite the challenges of a full-scale war, our state continues its digital transition and tries to synchronize its actions with the requirements of a candidate for EU accession.

Digitalization to make your life easier – even during the war

The comprehensive digitalization of Ukraine started more than 4 years ago. We sought to optimize processes, make them transparent and convenient for citizens, and minimize red tape. As a result of our work, today, Ukrainians do not have to waste time standing in lines or making in-person arrangements. They can get it done here and now via their smartphones. Making a bank card takes 15 minutes of online service. Condominium meetings are substituted by a mobile application with a digital signature. Pay a fine, share a car? Requires just one minute on your phone.

The state is now working as a service. This is a great achievement of the joint efforts of the Parliament Committee and the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Ukraine’s main government mobile application, Diia, is three years old and is used by 18.7 million citizens to host ID cards, international passports, and driver’s licenses. Ukraine is the first country in the world where a digital passport has the same validity as a paper one, the fourth in Europe where a digital driver’s license is available, and business registration in the state application is the fastest in the world and the most popular online service in the country. 

Russia’s full-scale war has only strengthened our digitalization efforts. Our children are forced to study online from shelters or because they have lost their homes. A special application called Mriia was developed to help children, parents, and teachers navigate the educational process more efficiently.

Even despite the war, we were able to export our digital products. An analog of our Diia will work in Estonia and several European, Asian, and African countries are interested in our government application.

Ukraine, the EU, and digitalisation: aligning the legislative framework

In the face of challenges brought by a full-scale war, Ukraine remains resolutely on its path towards EU integration. We are deeply aware that our destiny, our cherished values, and our progress lie in that direction. As the first deputy head of the parliamentary committee on digital transformation, I recognize that our mission entails aligning our legislative framework with European standards in the realm of digitalization.

And here, we already have some achievements. First, we reformed the field of electronic communications and aligned in this area with EU legislation. We ensured compliance of digital identification and provision of trust services with national, European, and international standards. The status of European-qualified providers of electronic trust services is recognized in the country.

We implemented the reform of obtaining public services online and created fundamental rules for the operation of public electronic registers. We pushed for the development of the IT industry. We created a legal framework for the legalization of the new market of virtual assets and the development of this business.

Moreover, the Cloud First principle was legislatively introduced in Ukraine, that is the transfer of the main processes of IT-server production to information and communication technology platforms based on cloud computing in the sphere of public administration, education, science, and other spheres of public life.

We established the organizational principles for the use of domain names in the special public domain gov.ua by state authorities, local self-government bodies, and state-owned organizations.

In essence, Ukraine’s focus revolves around digital signatures, streamlined services, enhanced business efficiency, and the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles. However, we remain aware that there is still significant groundwork to be done. Furthermore, our objective extends beyond mere EU integration: it is about integrating in a manner that maximizes community benefits, mitigating the concerns that some may have about potential threats.

Security matters: Ukraine’s digital experience as a valuable asset on a global scale

Last but not least, for Ukraine, digitalization is a matter of security. For Ukrainian experts, the full-scale Russian invasion of 2022 did not start on 24 February but on 14 January, with a sequence of intense cyber-attacks on government agencies, public services, and finally the Viasat satellite network. In the following few months, Ukraine witnessed a staggering threefold increase in recorded attacks compared to the same period in 2021. 

According to the State Special Communications Service, Ukraine still ranks first in the world in terms of the number of cyberattacks. But we learned to fight them off. Ukraine has created its powerful IT army, which includes almost 300,000 Ukrainian and international IT specialists. Therefore, for us, digitalization is important not only at the household level but also in terms of security.

In the times we live in now is impossible for states to survive without efficient digitalisation. Ukraine is proving that even a full-scale war cannot stop this process if there is a willingness to get a result. Our experience in countering cyberattacks can serve as a valuable asset on a global scale and be beneficial for the EU. Together, we will be able to counter modern cyber security threats more effectively. 

More on the topic in the recent study by the European Liberal Forum Designed in Brussels, Made in Ukraine: Future of the EU-Ukraine Relations).