By Ieva Ilves
September 10, 2024
CEPA
Ukraine provides an excellent example of the way digital resilience can help societies thrive under relentless attack.
It is a late Saturday morning in September in Kyiv. The city slowly stirs after an interrupted night’s sleep. At 3 a.m., its citizens were woken by the voice of Mark Hamill — most famous as Luke Skywalker — alerting them to another air raid warning.
Half asleep, I stare at my phone, scroll over a few Telegram channels for details on the ongoing drone attacks, and make the decision to stay in bed. A few blasts of air defense rockets are unpleasant interruptions, but in my semi-consciousness, I imagine they are thunder.
The morning is slow. People scan QR codes at their cafe tables and order breakfast. There is an invisible bond of gratitude at the ease of living — because everything works just like any other day.
This is the reality of resilience in the 21st century, where digital natives live in a world of ever-present technology. No longer is resilience solely about defending borders and protecting physical assets; it now encompasses the preservation and enhancement of a nation’s digital environment — its infrastructure, connectivity, and services.
Yet, as Ukraine’s achievements demonstrate, digital resilience extends even further. It’s not just about protecting digital ecosystems; it’s also about ensuring the continuity of the state and its core services in the face of unprecedented challenges.
Ukraine’s resilience is the product of a digital environment, meticulously built by the state and businesses, which is capable of addressing citizens’ needs efficiently and conveniently — whether in times of peace, pandemic, natural disaster, or war.
Every morning, as I walk the streets of Kyiv, I’m fascinated by the continuity of a functioning state amidst the fighting. Everything works. You can pay for your coffee with a digital wallet and a QR code, establish a company, follow online Air Alerts or electricity cuts on a phone app, seek shelter via an online map, enter the metro with a phone payment, and interact with more than 130 public services online.
Learning from the invasion of 2014, Ukraine, together with international partners, developed robust cybersecurity measures to protect its digital infrastructure from constant threats. This included safeguarding critical systems and raising the awareness of every citizen on the importance of digital hygiene in their daily use of technology.
Ukraine stayed focused, and continued investing to serve its citizens’ needs, even after 2022’s full-scale invasion. This foresight has been invaluable in maintaining national cohesion and functionality during the war.
Kyiv’s priorities have been to defend the country physically and digitally and provide online services that make citizens’ lives bearable, easier, and functional, even under extreme duress.
Ukrainians have a digital passport on their phones, for example, and it is not a PDF-type document but properly encrypted data linked to the State Registry of Citizens, accessible to those who need to see it.
Under regular missile attacks, people must escape fast, often carrying only their mobile phones. The national state app, Diia, has a built-in authentication system, allowing users to add other services, like paying taxes or receiving state financial support, with just a few clicks. Papers are no longer needed.
Digital services aren’t just conveniences; they’re lifelines that maintain the fabric of society. When citizens can pay for products and services with a digital wallet, receive financial reimbursement for reconstruction, access social or medical benefits, handle their property and car ownership digitally, or study despite air raid alerts, it sends a powerful message: Ukraine is functioning, innovating and serving its people.
And its experience offers lessons for other nations. These are to:
Invest in both security and service: Cybersecurity is crucial, but so is the development of user-friendly, efficient digital services that can operate under stress and address people’s needs.
Prioritize citizen’s needs: Digital resilience isn’t just about maintaining government operations; it’s about ensuring citizens can access services easily.
Foster Innovation: Ukraine’s ability to adapt and innovate in the face of challenges demonstrates the importance of a ready-to-deploy tech ecosystem.
Educate and Engage: Digital resilience requires an informed and engaged citizenry, capable of using digital tools effectively and securely.
Ukraine’s experience offers valuable insights for the European Union (EU) as it looks to strengthen its digital sovereignty, enhance its competitiveness and protect its democratic institutions.
The European Commission’s focus on creating a new European Democracy Shield and investing in both security and digital innovation aligns closely with Ukraine’s approach. By learning from Ukraine’s success in maintaining digital services and citizen engagement, the EU can better prepare itself for the challenges of an increasingly complex and unstable global environment.
As we navigate an era where geopolitical conflicts increasingly play out in the digital realm, Ukraine’s example serves as both an inspiration and a map. It shows us that true resilience in the 21st century is not just about withstanding attacks, but about building a digital society that can thrive even under the most challenging circumstances.
This author’s experience in digital policy spans more than two decades, from working to embed Latvia’s security in NATO to accelerating the digitization and safeguarding of public services in my home country.
When I left my government position to become an advisor on digital policy in Ukraine, I anticipated I would be learning from Ukraine rather than teaching. After a year and a half here, my expectations have been exceeded.
I’ve witnessed firsthand how digital services and innovations have not only kept me safe but have been essential to daily life.
Ukraine’s digital resilience is not just a matter of convenience; it’s a cornerstone of national strength and a model for democracies worldwide. As Europe looks to bolster its own digital capabilities and democratic resilience, the lessons from Ukraine will be invaluable.
Ieva Ilves has more than two decades of experience in digital transformation, cybersecurity and international affairs. Her career spans high-level roles in Latvia, Estonia and internationally, including as Digital Policy Advisor to Latvia’s President. She led Latvia’s first national cybersecurity strategy and the project to establish NATO’s Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Riga. She advises Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and WithSecure, a Finnish cybersecurity company. She has a Master’s from Johns Hopkins University SAIS.