Ukraine prepares for “worst-case scenario” for internet infrastructure

The Ukrainian government is preparing for the most unfavorable scenario regarding internet operations amid Russian strikes on internet service providers’ infrastructure.

This was stated by Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky on the telethon.

According to Koretsky, the threat to all critical infrastructure will persist until the end of the full-scale war. The Cabinet of Ministers is applying unconventional approaches to preserve digital data and equipment: part of the infrastructure is being moved underground, part is being placed in cloud storage, and certain facilities are physically being relocated abroad. If necessary, all three methods can be used simultaneously.

The prime minister stressed that there is no universal algorithm for protecting such facilities, but the government is constantly improving its protection system based on the most unfavorable scenario.

“First, we defend ourselves. Second, there are unconventional solutions. Some things should be underground, some in the cloud, some abroad, some as a mix, and some — all three options at once. So there is no single rule, but the fact that one must proceed from the worst-case scenario and think and prepare accordingly — that is a fact,” Koretsky said on the telethon.

Earlier, the owner of Kyiv internet provider UTELS, Oleksandr Polyudov, predicted a significant rise in internet tariffs due to Russian strikes on equipment and other property belonging to companies that provide internet access.

In addition, the Verkhovna Rada advised Ukrainians to connect to the internet through two providers simultaneously in connection with Russian strikes.