CYBERSECURITY IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY OF UKRAINE: PROTECTION MEASURES AND CHALLENGES IN THE CONTEXT OF ENERGY SECURITY

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is a hot topic in international geopolitics and geostrategic discussions. Ukraine's energy crisis was caused by the tactic of hitting Russia straight at the point of a crucial national object, especially the power plant. This was preceded by a cyberattack at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, followed by a traditional physical attack from the air. Numerous industries are impacted by the ensuing conflict, including the food, energy, and supply chains, particularly in the months leading up to the conflict (end of 2021). This quantitative study aims to investigate the cybersecurity environment in the energy sector of Ukraine in-depth. The study intends to uncover important protective strategies and obstacles by examining data from Google Scholar and Ukrainian websites. This will provide insightful information for improving the energy sector's resilience against cyber-attacks. In order to defend Ukraine's energy sector against cyber threats, the study's recommended countermeasures include modernizing vital infrastructure, creating a culture that values cybersecurity, safeguarding Industrial Control Systems (ICS), ongoing monitoring, staff training, cooperation, compliance with laws, and creating incident response plans. This study's conclusion emphasizes how crucial it is to work together and adapt continuously in order to strengthen Ukraine's energy security. Maintaining strong cybersecurity measures while maintaining operational efficiency is essential. Maintaining a constant focus on information exchange, resilience-building, and best practices is essential to protecting the energy infrastructure from ever-evolving cyber-attacks.