Netherlands to fund Ukraine's defense against Russian cyberattacks

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a €10 million contribution to a British-led cyber programme aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s resilience against systematic Russian cyberattacks. Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel framed the funding as part of a broader push to counter hybrid aggression that threatens not only Ukraine but all of Europe.

The contribution will support the Tallinn Mechanism, an international coalition that coordinates partner countries’ cyber assistance to Ukraine. The mechanism pools technical expertise from leading European states and supplies Ukrainian specialists with tools and training to defend critical information systems against persistent cyber onslaughts.

"The UK is our valued partner in strengthening Ukraine's resilience. Today, the Netherlands announced €10 million for the UK’s Ukraine Cyber Programme," van Weel wrote in his post on X, according to the ministry’s release.

Dutch officials say the funding will be used to harden information systems, accelerate development of Ukrainian cyber capabilities, and provide rapid technical support amid ongoing attacks on critical infrastructure.

The announcement follows additional Dutch aid measures announced during a visit to Kyiv: on 28 October, van Weel unveiled €25 million in support for Ukraine’s energy sector to finance equipment purchases, emergency repairs and gas procurement ahead of winter.

The Netherlands is also preparing a new military assistance package worth €90 million that includes funding for the production of reconnaissance and strike drones for Ukraine. Kyiv and The Hague recently signed a memorandum on joint drone production, a step officials describe as deepening defence cooperation and expanding domestic drone manufacturing capacity.