The outcomes of the SSU’s criminal proceedings on russian cyberattacks on Ukraine should be considered by the International Tribunal within its war crimes investigation.

This will make it possible to bring to justice the top military and political leadership of the aggressor state, including of its special services.

This was stated by Illia Vitiuk, Chief of the SSU Cyber Security Department, at the All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference held annually by the SSU National Academy.

‘Today, when the issue of the International Tribunal for russia’s crimes in Ukraine has risen, russian cyberattacks should be considered a war crime. For example, the cyberattacks on energy facilities, especially in winter. Disabling these systems causes casualties among civilian population. And this is a real war crime,’ Illia Vitiuk emphasized.

According to the head of the SSU Cyber Security, in 2022 russia tripled the number of cyberattacks on Ukraine. They are mainly aimed at civilian infrastructure, including energy and logistics, as well as state registries.

‘When it comes to personal responsibility for these crimes, not only the perpetrators, but also the people who give such criminal orders should be held accountable. For example, the director of the FSB and the heads of other russian special services should be punished,’ said Vitiuk.

According to the rector of the SSU National Academy, Andriy Chernyak, Ukraine needs legislative changes to take proper procedural steps. In particular, it is necessary to develop a unified definition of the concept of ‘cyber warfare’.

‘Legislative regulation of ‘cyber warfare’ will help to form a unified strategy for countering challenges in cyberspace. We are ready to join such research and introduce the terminology into the legislation,’ the rector said.

It should be reminded that in 2022 the SSU Cyber Security Department neutralized over 4,500 cyberattacks on Ukraine.

On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for russian president vladimir putin.

At the time, the SSU Head Vasyl Maliuk said that SSU investigators are working every day to ensure that not only the perpetrators but also the main ‘organizer’ of the crimes are punished. And the arrest warrant for putin is one of the first steps towards bringing russian war criminals to justice.