CYBERWAR AS A VARIETY OF INFORMATION WARS. UKRAINIAN CYBER SPACE PROTECTION

Abstract

The paper describes the role played by information technologies, including cybersecurity, specialists, during the war in Ukraine. The concept and framework of the information front are outlined, the contribution of technologists to both the economy and the field of information warfare is highlighted. The article describes the course and circumstances of the information war on the territory of our state from 2014 until the full-scale invasion of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine. The contribution of both domestic and foreign information protection specialists to the course of this war is described. The main problems in the information space that we have to face in the current conditions are outlined, as well as examples of assistance in the realities of today's war. The study found out in which directions domestic IT specialists are moving, what is their role in the current situation, how are foreign structures and volunteers involved. The separate role is given to foreign journalists who are also fighting on the information front, but they are not specialists in information technology or cybersecurity. Thus, it is clear that Ukraine will win in the information war primarily due to the coverage of true information and its dissemination, as well as due to the active opposition to fakes. It can also be concluded that the information front is no less important than the real one, as it not only weakens the enemy, but also breaks the system from within - destroys logistics, flaunts not the best side of the enemy and informs society about the real state of events. Currently, Ukrainian and foreign cyber troops are doing their best: actively opposing disinformation and fakes, investing in the economy and destroying sites that are still operational. The perspective of our study is to further monitor the cyberfront. It is important to find out how events will run, what other applications (software, technical) will be developed to counter the aggressor, whether certain conclusions will be drawn from Ukraine. From our point of view, there is a strong improvement in the protection of all systems from the possibility of hacking, training of cyber troops at the state level and the development of new solutions to protect existing software.