Bloomberg: Ukraine’s digital defences weakened by sudden US program cuts

The United States has scaled back cybersecurity support for Ukraine amid widespread program cuts under President Donald Trump’s administration, raising concerns about Ukraine's vulnerability to Russian cyberattacks.

Key US programs — led by agencies like USAID, the NSA, and US Cyber Command — had previously provided more than $200 million in cybersecurity assistance, including equipment, software, training, and intelligence sharing. But funding has been frozen, contracts cancelled or paused, and critical projects terminated early, according to sources familiar with the matter, cited by Bloomberg.

The largest project, a $128 million USAID contract awarded in 2020 to DAI Global LLC, aimed to protect Ukraine’s critical infrastructure but now faces an uncertain future. Equipment for government ministries, energy firms, and nuclear sites like Chernobyl has been delayed or halted. Similar programs from CRDF Global and other contractors have also been paused.

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency began dismantling USAID in February, with Musk claiming, without evidence, that the agency interferes globally. Vice President JD Vance has warned Ukraine that US support could further decline if it does not accept a peace deal with Russia, viewed by critics as skewed in Moscow’s favour.

Cybersecurity expert Yegor Aushev said the pullback “has created a significant challenge,” while Andrii Mankish noted that many initiatives were stopped midstream. The State Department stated that all cyber aid is under review to align with Trump’s priorities.

Ukraine’s defence had heavily relied on US-backed training and systems, especially following intensified Russian cyber activity during the war. Although some private sector firms like Mandiant, Palo Alto Networks, and Symantec continue offering support through the Cyber Defence Assistance Collaborative (CDAC), their $40 million contribution is dwarfed by frozen US aid.

An additional $100 million US contribution to the Tallinn Mechanism — an international initiative supporting Ukraine’s cybersecurity — has also been halted.

While countries like Canada, the UK, and Japan are trying to step in, analysts say replacing the scale of American support will be difficult.

By Tamilla Hasanova