Netherlands allocate $132 million in new military aid funding package for Ukraine.

The Netherlands has allocated EUR122 million (£132 million) to support Ukraine's ammunition supply, equipment, and cybersecurity, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced on Jan.

29.   Ollongren said that EUR87 million (£94 million) will go towards purchasing artillery shells for Ukraine, and EUR10 million (£10.8 million) will go toward improving Ukraine's cyber defenses. The contribution to cyber defense is essential as Ukraine "has already faced several hacking attempts and cyber attacks," the announcement said.

Moscow has deployed its cyber capabilities against Ukraine, including attacks on government institutions, the defense sector, energy infrastructure, banking, and telecommunications. Another EUR25 million (£27 million) will be used to purchase equipment via the International Fund for Ukraine, a funding mechanism set up on the initiative of the UK Defense Ministry on behalf of the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Lithuania. "It is very important to support Ukraine not only for the short term, but also for the long term," Ollongren said.

According to the announcement, the donations result from consultations with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), also known as the Ramstein group. The last summit of the UDCG was held online on Jan.

23. The UDCG comprises over 50 countries, including all 31 NATO members, and has been meeting regularly since April 2022 to coordinate military aid for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

Kyivstar cyberattack cost telecommunications operator nearly £100 million

VEON, the Dutch telecommunications operator and parent company of the Ukrainian mobile operator Kyivstar, revealed a £95 million loss due to the major cyberattack conducted by a Russian hacker group in December, the company announced in a statement on Jan.

18.