The Ministry of Digital Transformation has identified the resilience of mobile networks and digital infrastructure as a key focus area in preparations for the winter of 2026–2027. The ministry is developing solutions to ensure the continued operation of communications and government e-services during prolonged power cuts, Vitaliy Balashov, Deputy Minister for Cybersecurity and Cloud Technologies, said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine on 13 October.
Briefly about the main points
- Operators are to implement some of the measures before the start of winter.
- 92% base stations are capable of operating on battery power for up to eight hours.
- A hybrid model comprising several cloud environments is being developed for government systems.
- The backup infrastructure for critical systems will be geographically separated.
- There are plans to simplify the authorisation process for international providers without compromising security.
The autonomy of base stations depends on operating conditions
Ministry of Digital Transformation is working on measures that mobile operators will be able to implement before the start of winter. At the same time, the agency is developing a long-term system to protect physical digital infrastructure.
According to figures released by the ministry in September, 92% base stations can operate for up to eight hours on battery power. A further 67% stations are capable of maintaining operations for more than three days thanks to generators.
The actual duration of the network’s operation during power cuts will depend on the energy reserve, the air temperature, the load on the equipment and the ability to recharge it between power cuts.
A Cloud Smart model is being developed for government systems
The Ministry is drawing up a strategy for the development of cloud services in Ukraine for 2026–2031. This strategy is to be based on the ‘Cloud Smart’ approach: cloud technologies will be used where this meets the needs of a specific system and complies with security requirements.
This model differs from the ‘Cloud First’ principle, under which cloud deployment is considered as the primary option. ‘Cloud Smart’ allows for the selection of other technical solutions if they are more appropriate.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation is also focusing on a hybrid multi-cloud architecture — the use of several cloud environments and providers. This should reduce dependence on a single provider and ensure that services continue to operate in the event of problems with individual data centres or access to infrastructure.
Reserve resources will be held in Ukraine and abroad
The Ministry of Digital Transformation has no plans to relocate state information resources entirely outside Ukraine. Instead, the systems will be able to utilise both Ukrainian and foreign infrastructure simultaneously, and hosting some of the resources abroad should reduce the risk of them being destroyed as a result of Russian attacks.
Operators of public systems must have procedures in place to restore service following technical failures, cyber-attacks or physical damage to equipment. If automatic restoration is not possible, they must ensure that service is restored within a specified timeframe.
These requirements are set out in Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1009 of 6 August 2026. Most of its provisions have already come into force, whilst certain amendments will take effect from 1 January 2027. For mission-critical systems, geographical separation of the primary and backup infrastructure is required.
The SBU will be involved in inspections of cloud service providers
The Ministry is preparing to streamline the procedures for authorising cloud service providers to manage government information resources. At present, companies are required to confirm their compliance with security requirements, the location of their equipment and their rights to it; for large international providers, some of these procedures are difficult to fulfil due to their corporate structure.
There are plans to simplify administrative requirements without compromising cybersecurity standards. The Security Service of Ukraine will be involved in the vetting of companies that will be working with state resources and critical infrastructure.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation will not specify particular suppliers: Ukrainian and foreign companies will undergo the same authorisation procedure, and the choice of provider will depend on the needs and risks of a particular system. At the same time, the Ministry is preparing the networks for the coming winter and putting in place mechanisms for long-term resource allocation.
