Strengthening the digital security of the State: Government endorses bill to ban russian software

Soon, Ukrainian companies will have to completely abandon software from aggressor countries to preserve national security. The Government has endorsed a draft law banning the use of sanctioned electronic resources.

To improve the country's cyber defence, the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine drafted the bill on demand of the National Security and Defence Council. It strengthens the sanctions legislation on the list of digital products. It applies to software and information resources created by russian companies or any representatives of countries that are related to the activities of aggressor countries or terrorist organisations.

In particular, the draft law prohibits the distribution and use by legal entities of software products that are:

• created by individuals or legal entities from foreign countries that are subject to sanctions;
• created by legal entities whose share in the authorised capital is owned by such states;
• created by legal entities controlled by foreign legal entities or individuals engaged in terrorist activities;
• software products created using the source or object code of software products subject to sanctions;
• software products developed by persons subject to sanctions, regardless of their country of origin.

The draft law also provides for a ban on access to electronic information resources on the Internet owned or controlled by persons or organisations subject to sanctions. This applies to websites, web pages, electronic communication networks and information and communication systems.

The implementation of the bill will help to increase the level of cyber defence of information and communication systems in the context of existing and potential threats to Ukraine's national security, in particular due to the military aggression of the russian federation.