Ukraine's first dedicated cybercrime training facility opens in Kyiv to strengthen the country's capacity to investigate and prosecute digital crime

According to a UNODC study on organized crime dynamics in Ukraine released in 2025, fraud cases have increased drastically, with illegal revenues estimated in the billions of US dollars, driven in part by an estimated 1,500 criminal call centres operating across the country. The victims are predominantly Ukrainians, including those forcibly displaced by the war, though people in Western Europe and beyond are also targeted.

To meet this challenge, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has supported the establishment of CyberHub — Ukraine's first dedicated cybercrime training facility, located on the premises of the Prosecutor´s Training Center of Ukraine. The initiative is part of a broader three-year project through which UNODC, with the financial support of the Government of Canada, is helping Ukraine to build stronger capabilities to prevent and combat cybercrime, encompassing training, specialised equipment, mobile forensic laboratories and cybercrime prevention work. These efforts reflect the growing international consensus on the need for coordinated action against digital crime, as embodied in the UN Convention against Cybercrime, the first global legally binding instrument of its kind, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2024.

"During the first five months of 2026, nearly 70,000 criminal proceedings related to cybersecurity were under investigation," said Oleksii Khomenko, Deputy Attorney General of Ukraine. "I am confident that the CyberHub-enabled training environment will become a strategic tool and our shared asymmetric response to emerging cyber threats."

CyberHub has been designed as a purpose-built environment where Ukrainian prosecutors, police officers and representatives of other law enforcement authorities can acquire specialised knowledge in handling digital evidence, conducting OSINT investigations, requesting information from international service providers and tracing virtual assets.

The facility is equipped with dedicated software and hardware, as well as a mock courtroom, enabling practitioners to develop the practical skills needed to present digital evidence in a manner that is objective, validated and admissible, ultimately strengthening the courts' ability to hold offenders accountable.

"CyberHub is an investment in Ukraine’s future — a future where institutions are strong, citizens are protected, and justice prevails," Patrick Segsworth, Deputy Director of the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program at Global Affairs Canada, mentioned. “By strengthening Ukraine’s capacity to investigate, prosecute and prevent cybercrime, CyberHub will play a vital role in enhancing the country’s cyber resilience.”  

UNODC will conduct ongoing specialised training at CyberHub across a range of topics, including electronic evidence, crypto-assets, investigations into online child sexual exploitation and online fraud, international cooperation and national coordination on cybercrime investigations.

"Cybercrime has a devastating impact on people's lives, especially for those affected by war and who have already lost their homes, jobs and livelihoods," said Matthias Schmale, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine. "The United Nations continues to support the Government of Ukraine by strengthening the skills of those who investigate and prosecute cybercrime."

With CyberHub opened, Ukraine takes a concrete step towards a justice system equipped to meet the challenges of the digital age, protecting its citizens today and building resilience for the future. UNODC remains committed to supporting the country in this effort.