Ukraine can now activate emergency EU cyber support to respond to large-scale cybersecurity incidents, after the Council of the European Union approved its inclusion in the EU Cybersecurity Reserve on 16 June 2026. The Reserve, managed by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), provides incident response services from trusted private providers to help address significant or large-scale attacks.
The decision reflects close EU-Ukraine cooperation and aligns with the EU's strategic digital partnership agenda. It also forms part of the Commission's broader efforts to ensure that the EU and its partners can counter evolving cyber threats with preparedness, rapid response and shared expertise. Moldova was already included in the Reserve in 2024 under the Cyber Solidarity Act.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said: "By welcoming Ukraine into the EU Cybersecurity Reserve, we strengthen our collective defences and reaffirm the principle of solidarity that lies at the heart of Europe's digital future. At a time when cyberattacks pose a constant risk, our unity is our greatest asset."
Impact on stakeholders
For Ukraine, the inclusion means faster access to specialised cyber incident response teams, reducing the time to mitigate attacks that have targeted critical infrastructure since the Russian invasion. EU member states benefit from a broader network of shared expertise, though the Reserve's capacity may be stretched if multiple large-scale incidents occur simultaneously. Private cybersecurity providers contracted under the Reserve gain a new client, potentially increasing revenue but also facing higher operational demands. ENISA's coordination role expands, requiring additional resources to manage the enlarged Reserve.
Institutional follow-up
Ukraine's inclusion is effective immediately. The Commission is expected to monitor the Reserve's performance and may propose adjustments under the Cyber Solidarity Act framework. No further Council approval is needed for Ukraine to activate support.