Kyber Sprotyv: Ukraine’s Spec Ops in Cyberspace?

This article, authored by CSS researchers Stefan Soesanto and Wiktoria Gajos, examines the intricate operations of Kyber Sprotyv, a cyber group likely coordinated by the Ukrainian government, in the context of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Since its first public revelation in February 2023, Kyber Sprotyv has been involved in targeted cyber attacks against Russian military personnel and their associates. It has also played a pivotal role within Ukraine's larger information warfare strategy. The group's integration with national resistance efforts, particularly its connections with the National Resistance Center, InformNapalm, and the Myrotvorets database, underscores a sophisticated interplay between non-state cyber activities and state objectives. The article examines Kyber Sprotyv’s operational tactics, its significant impact on the informational dimensions of modern conflict, and the legal ambiguities it presents concerning the law of armed conflict in cyberspace. Through a detailed analysis of the group's activities and affiliations, Soesanto and Gajos raise critical questions about the attribution of cyber operations to state actors and the evolving criteria for state responsibility in the digital domain. The objective of this article is to enhance understanding of state-non-state cooperation in cyber warfare and its implications for international law and cyber diplomacy.