The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) agreed to Ukraine's membership in the NATO CCDCOE as a Contributing Participant, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has reported.

"This week, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) held its 30th Steering Committee. With a unanimous vote, the 27 Sponsoring Nations in the Steering Committee of the CCDCOE agreed to Ukraine’s membership in the NATO CCDCOE as a Contributing Participant," the General Staff said.

Ukraine's presence in the Centre will enhance the exchange of cyber expertise, between Ukraine and CCDCOE member nations, Col Jaak Tarien, Director of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, said.

"Ukraine could bring valuable first-hand knowledge of several adversaries within the cyber domain to be used for research, exercises and training," he said.

Minister of Defence of Estonia Kalle Laanet said that Ukraine definitely has valuable experience from previous cyber-attacks to provide significant value to the NATO CCDCOE. Estonia as a Host Nation of the CCDCOE has been a long-term partner for Ukraine in enhancing its cybersecurity capacity and cyber resilience and we welcome the decision of the members of CCDCOE agreeing to Ukraine’s membership, he said.

The Centre has already expanded its memberships outside the NATO-nations.

The CCDCOE is a NATO-accredited cyber knowledge hub, research institution, and training and exercise facility. The Tallinn-based international military organization focuses on interdisciplinary applied research, as well as consultations, training and exercises in the field of cybersecurity.