Supporting Ukraine in being a step ahead of cybercriminals
September 08, 2023
In an ever-evolving digital landscape, being a step ahead of cybercriminals is a pressing challenge for law enforcement agencies worldwide. In Ukraine, where the ongoing war adds complexity to the nation’s security concerns, mastering the skills for fighting cybercrime, including conducting financial investigations has become paramount.
Recognising this need, the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine conducted a workshop on Cryptocurrency Crime and Financial Investigations for 24 experts from various Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, including the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigation, the National Police of Ukraine, and the Security Service of Ukraine, 5 to 7 September 2023.
The workshop aimed at enhancing the capacities of these experts in key areas: financial investigations, cybercrime, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and international cooperation.
The workshop was supported by experts from Europol, Moody´s Analytics and Ukrainian Modern Digital Science.
At the onset of the workshop, held at the Cyber Crime Laboratory of Mariupol State University in Kyiv, Rector Mykola Trofymenko underscored the pivotal role that the university plays in enriching the knowledge and skills of law enforcement professionals, particularly in the realms of security and economics.
The opening ceremony was attended by other guests, including Oleg Golovash, Chief of the Chairman’s Staff of the Security Service of Ukraine, Oleksii Drozd, Head of the Department of Organisational Support of Activities of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine, and Yurii Holodnyk, Counsellor to the Director of the State Bureau of Investigations.
“Effective fight against organised crime is not possible without the financial investigation followed by the deprivation, seizure and confiscation of criminal assets. And our Mission is working very closely with the EU Member States and Ukrainian institutions to provide expert advice and share best practices in this area,” said Maura O’Sullivan, the EUAM’s Deputy Head in her welcome address to the workshop participants.
The participants to the workshop gained valuable insights into tackling cryptocurrency-related crimes, an increasingly prevalent threat in the digital age. Matúš Levocký from Moody’s Analytics shared his expertise on using information from international open-source databases. Participants also familiarized themselves with modern online tools for conducting effective investigations.
“As Ukraine continues to navigate challenging times, initiatives like this serve as an example of cooperation and knowledge-sharing in combating cryptocurrency-related crimes and conducting financial investigations,” concluded Andrej Baran, EUAM’s Senior Adviser on Special Law Enforcement Agencies.
In a world where the fight against cybercrime is a shared global endeavor, EUAM’s proactive stance facilitates the strengthening of the rule of law in Ukraine and fosters international cooperation between Ukrainian civilian security sector actors and their EU counterparts.
