Ukraine: Ukrainische Digitalministerin Ferchuk: „Wir verlagern unsere Infrastruktur unter die Erde oder in die Cloud“

Kiew, Ukraine - Shortly before meeting with the Handelsblatt, Ukrainian Digital Minister Oksana Ferchuk received grim news from Kyiv. Russian airstrikes targeted several data centers overnight, disrupting internet services in the capital temporarily. Despite the attacks, Ferchuk emphasized that the damage to the digital economy remains limited, thanks to Ukraine's multiple layers of protection. She stated, "We have prepared for this - after all, we are in the fifth year of war."

Ferchuk had just returned from a meeting with her German counterpart, Karsten Wildberger, marking her first overseas trip as Digital Minister. She expressed hope for increased investment and cooperation with German companies in Ukraine. Ukraine could serve as an experimental ground not only for weapons but also for AI applications, she added.

The minister discussed Ukraine's digital resilience, noting that the country has shifted its infrastructure "under the ground or into the cloud." Over half of Ukraine's enterprises and state systems are now redundant, with triple backup systems in place. She expressed confidence that the impact of the recent attacks would be minimal. Ferchuk highlighted ongoing communication with data center operators, internet and mobile service providers, and her team's efforts to recover swiftly.

Ferchuk outlined four priorities for her tenure: transitioning from a digital state to an "agent state" with AI-assisted services, developing defense technology and dual-use technologies, enhancing digital resilience and sovereignty through protected infrastructure, 5G rollout, and integrating Ukraine into the European digital single market.

She explained that her team is creating recommendations and standardized software tools for ministries to implement their digitalization strategies. Moreover, each ministry and government agency has appointed digital transformation officers to develop digital products.

During her previous role in the Defense Ministry, Ferchuk had introduced digital transformation officers to the military, down to battalion level. In Berlin, she noted a productive meeting with Wildberger, focusing on collaboration areas and the potential for German teams to share their expertise in developing digital services for Ukraine.

She also mentioned their work on the Ukrainian Diia app, which currently hosts over 200 government services. Ferchuk expressed enthusiasm about sharing the Ukrainian experience with German teams and forming a joint working group to develop simple AI-based services.