Сyberwar as a systemic challenge to Ukraine's cybersecurity

Based on the analysis of scientific sources and generalization of knowledge about the confrontation in global cyberspace, the basic characteristics of cyberwar have been identified, namely: the parties to cyberwar can be states, coalitions or other subjects of international relations; the main targets in cyberwar are state strategic and military facilities, financial institutions, and the country's critical infrastructure; the main means of cyberwar is the complex, coordinated in time and space, use of various types of cyberweapons; the basic form of using cyberweapons as an element of a cyberoperation is a cyberattack; the involvement of cyber troops and cyber units in preventive cyberoperations; the organization of preventive cyberdefense as a counteraction to the destructive impact on cyberspace in the forms of cyberespionage, cybersabotage, cyberterrorism, and cybercrime. The proposed understanding of the essence of cyberwar as a way of resolving geopolitical and socioeconomic contradictions between subjects of international relations with the complex use of cyberweapons and other forms of destructive influence on cyberspace is revealed. The substantive side of cyberwar, which is determined by the composition and functions of the structural components of the organization of preventive active counteraction in cyberwar, is revealed. The factors of the functioning of the national segment of cyberspace in the conditions of cyberwar are substantiated, namely: − the presence of cyber potential for confrontation in cyberspace, deterrence of cybercrime, cyberterrorism and other cyberthreats; − effective cyber defense based on the use of cyber units with the authority to conduct confrontation in cyberspace and effective interaction of the main subjects of the national cybersecurity system and defense forces; − cyber resilience, security and cyber readiness of national critical infrastructure; − national cyber sovereignty – legal security of the established functioning of cyberspace on national and international legal principles; − the presence of the state's professional and educational potential – ensuring the personnel needs of cyber troops with cybersecurity specialists.