Ukraine calls on all states to increase pressure on Russia for cyber violations

Ukraine fully trusts the criminal charges announced by the United States against Russian GRU officers for committing a series of cyberattacks and calls on all states to increase pressure on the Russian Federation so that it stops systematic violations of international law, according to a statement released by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
"Ukraine fully trusts the results of the investigation and charges announced by the U.S. Department of Justice against six officers of the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces for a number of cyberattacks committed around the world, including in Ukraine, the United States, France, Georgia, and South Korea," the ministry said, commenting on a press statement made by U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.

Ukraine also supports the statement by Pompeo regarding the need to strongly condemn Russia's continuing disruptive, destructive, and destabilizing activities in cyberspace, the statement said.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that such activities demonstrate a complete disregard for public safety and international stability. It said that Ukraine reaffirms its firm position that the norms and principles of international law fully apply to the behavior of states in cyberspace, and those responsible for cyberattacks must be brought to justice.

"We call on the international community to continue its coordinated pressure on Russia so that it stops its systematic violation of norms and principles of international law, in particular the use of cyber tools with a malicious purpose that threatens the security of global cyberspace," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

Earlier, the United States brought charges against six Russian GRU officers for their involvement in organizing international cyberattacks, including against Ukraine, and spreading dangerous malware programs that caused billions of U.S. dollars in damage.