Internet in Ukraine Connectivity and Security

Ukraine has made significant progress in expanding its internet connectivity, with over 70% of the population now having access to the internet.

The country's internet penetration rate has been steadily increasing, driven by the growth of mobile internet services and the expansion of high-speed internet infrastructure.

In 2019, Ukraine's average internet speed was around 25 Mbps, which is relatively high compared to other countries in Eastern Europe.

However, despite this progress, internet security remains a concern in Ukraine, with the country facing a high risk of cyber attacks and data breaches.

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Internet access in Ukraine is relatively widespread, with around 74% of the population having access to the internet as of 2020.

The country's internet penetration rate has been steadily increasing over the years, with a significant jump from 50% in 2015 to 74% in 2020.

Ukraine has a relatively high mobile broadband penetration rate, with around 83% of the population having access to mobile internet services.

Fixed broadband services are also widely available, with around 64% of households having access to a fixed broadband connection.

The country's largest internet service providers include Kyivstar, Vodafone Ukraine, and Ukrtelecom.

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Ukraine has a robust internet infrastructure, with Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) playing a crucial role in connecting networks.

IXPs in Ukraine enable registered networks to connect directly with each other, reducing latency and improving overall internet performance.

One notable example of an IXP in Ukraine is the IXP Tracker, which allows users to view Ukraine's internet exchange points.

Locally cached content of the top 1000 websites in Ukraine can be accessed through an in-country server or cache. This means that even if a website is blocked or slow, you can still access it through a local cache.

In Ukraine, internet content and services are designed to be easily accessible, with many websites having local servers or caches to reduce latency and improve user experience.

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Most social media platforms have rules against posting explicit or violent content, with some platforms removing up to 70% of hate speech within 24 hours.

This is because online content can be easily shared and accessed by a wide audience, making it essential to maintain a safe and respectful environment.

Many platforms have a three-strike policy for repeat offenders, issuing warnings before permanently removing accounts that break the rules.

This approach helps to balance the need to protect users with the need to allow for free expression and open discussion.

Some platforms also have specific guidelines for content related to politics and elections, requiring transparency and accountability from users and advertisers.

These guidelines are designed to prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure that users are not misled by biased or false information.

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Locally cached content can be a game-changer for accessing popular websites quickly. In Ukraine, for instance, the top 1000 websites can be accessed through an in-country server or cache.

This means that if you're traveling or living in Ukraine, you can still access your favorite websites without any issues. Locally cached content can be especially helpful for websites with high traffic, like news sites or social media platforms.

In fact, locally cached content can reduce latency and improve overall browsing experience. This is especially true for websites that are frequently visited by users in a particular region.

For example, in Ukraine, you can access the top 1000 websites through a local server or cache. This can be a big advantage for people who rely on the internet for work or personal use.

The Internet in Ukraine has faced significant security challenges, particularly during the war with global impact between February 2022 and February 2023.

An average of 10% of all traffic to Ukraine was mitigations of potential attacks, highlighting the importance of proactive security measures.

Cyber attacks rose 1,300% in Ukraine by early March, with mitigated application-layer threats blocked by WAF skyrocketing after the war started on February 24.

DDoS attack traffic accounted for over 80% of all traffic to sites on the ".ua" top-level domain by early March 2022, with the first clear spikes occurring on February 16 and 19.

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An average of 13% of all traffic to ".ua" between February 2022 and February 2023 was mitigations of potential attacks, showing the ongoing threat of cyber attacks.

Around 57% of mitigations were done by the ruleset that automatically detects and mitigates HTTP DDoS attacks, while 31% were being mitigated by firewall rules put in place.

The share of mitigated traffic from Ukraine also increased considerably after the invasion started, highlighting the need for targeted security measures.

You can get a digital SIM card, also known as an eSIM, from a Ukrainian mobile operator, which is a convenient and secure option. eSIMs have the same functions as physical SIM cards but don't require insertion into your smartphone.

The eSIM can contain up to five numbers from any operator, with one active number that can be easily changed in your phone's settings. You can also use both an eSIM and a standard SIM card simultaneously.

Ukrainian mobile operators offer affordable plans, with SIM card prices ranging from 50 to 300 UAH (1 to 8 USD). 4G coverage is available in most cities, but can be limited in rural areas or small towns.

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In Ukraine, mobile internet is a convenient option for staying connected. 96% of the country has access to at least one device with 4G mobile Internet.

You can get a SIM card for mobile Internet in Ukraine, which is quite affordable, ranging from 50 to 300 UAH (1 to 8 USD). It's easy to activate, and you can start using it by inserting the SIM card into your smartphone.

4G coverage is available in most Ukrainian cities, but it can be spotty in rural areas or small towns. There are also areas where there is no mobile Internet at all.

Here's a brief summary of the mobile internet situation in Ukraine:

During the war, national roaming works in Ukraine, allowing you to connect to another operator's network if your operator's services are unavailable.

You can get a digital SIM card from a Ukrainian mobile operator if your device supports eSIM technology. eSIM has the same functions as a physical SIM card, but you don't need to insert it into your smartphone.

The advantage of eSIM is that the card can contain up to five numbers of any operator, with one active number that can be easily changed in the phone's settings.

You can use both an eSIM and a standard SIM card simultaneously, and both numbers will be active. This is a big plus, especially if you need to use multiple numbers for different purposes.

Ukrainian mobile operators offer many plans for different communication options, so be sure to check their websites or stores for the terms and conditions.

Here's a list of some Ukrainian mobile operators that offer eSIM options:

With eSIM, you can also protect your personal data better, as the card cannot be lost.

Starlink offers satellite internet connectivity, which has experienced rapid growth in Ukraine since 2022.

Between mid-March and mid-May 2022, Starlink’s traffic in Ukraine grew over 530%.

Starlink is used by military and government institutions in frontline areas, as well as by civilians as an additional source of internet in case of a power outage.

A standard Starlink satellite internet package costs $120 per month.

To use Starlink, you need to purchase equipment, which starts at $349.

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Using public Wi-Fi in Ukraine is a cheap and often free way to access the Internet while traveling.

Public Wi-Fi networks can be found in hotels, restaurants, coworking spaces, and other places, making it a convenient option.

However, it's not recommended to share confidential information, such as your bank account data, over public Wi-Fi.

Connecting to public Wi-Fi can be quite dangerous, as your personal information can be stolen.

If you have no other options for communication and need to inform someone of your location or arrange a meeting urgently, public Wi-Fi can be used as a last resort.

Cyber attacks rose 1,300% in Ukraine by early March.

The industries that had a higher share of WAF mitigations were government administration, financial services, and the media, representing almost half of all WAF mitigations targeting Ukraine during 2022.

DDoS attacks on media and publishing companies surged in Ukraine during 2022, with entities targeting Ukrainian companies focused on information-related websites.

The top five most attacked industries in Ukraine in the first two quarters of 2022 were all in broadcasting, Internet, online media, and publishing, accounting for almost 80% of all DDoS attacks targeting Ukraine.

Between February 2022 and February 2023, an average of 10% of all traffic to Ukraine was mitigations of potential attacks.

In contrast to the first graph, which looked at mitigated attack traffic targeting Ukraine, we can also look at mitigated attack traffic originating in Ukraine, which also increased considerably after the invasion started.

In the first days of the war, mitigation spikes were observed at a news service, a TV channel, a government website, and a bank.

The biggest drops in Internet traffic in Ukraine were observed in Kharkiv Oblast and Chernihiv in the north, both with a 60% decrease, followed by Kyiv Oblast, with traffic 40% lower on March 2, 2022, as compared with February 23.

In western Ukraine, traffic surged, with the regions of Rivne, Volyn, Lviv, Chernivtsi, and Zakarpattia experiencing growth of 50%, 30%, 28%, 25%, and 15% respectively.

Internet outages were noticeable in places where direct conflict was going on or that was already occupied by Russian soldiers, with cities like Chernihiv, Bucha, and Irpin experiencing significant drops in traffic.

In Mariupol, the Russians laid siege on February 24, and energy infrastructure strikes and shutdowns had an impact on local networks and Internet traffic, which fell to minimal levels by March 1.

The city of Enerhodar, where the nuclear power plant is located, experienced a four-day outage after September 6, and Internet outages were observed in two local ASNs that service the area: AS199560 (Engrup) and AS197002 (OOO Tenor).

The Russian air strikes targeting critical energy infrastructure began in September, and on October 10, Ukraine woke up to air strikes on energy infrastructure and experienced severe electricity and Internet outages, with traffic in the country being 35% below its usual level compared with the previous week.

In Kherson Oblast, a multi-week Internet disruption began on Saturday, October 22, with traffic dropping to ~70% lower than in previous weeks, and it wasn't until Ukrainian forces took Kherson city on November 11 that traffic began to return.

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In late October, 30% of Ukraine's power stations were destroyed, resulting in drops in Internet traffic observed in places like Kyiv and the surrounding region, and on November 23, 2022, the country experienced widespread power outages after Russian strikes, causing a nearly 50% decrease in Internet traffic in Ukraine.

In January 2023, air strikes caused additional Internet disruptions, with traffic in Odessa dropping as low as 54% compared with the previous week during an 18-hour disruption.

DDoS attack traffic accounted for over 80% of all traffic to sites on the “.ua” top-level domain by early March 2022, with around 25% of traffic mitigated on February 16 and 19, and an average of 13% of all traffic to “.ua” between February 2022 and February 2023 was mitigations of potential attacks.

If your device supports eSim technology, you can purchase a digital SIM card from a Ukrainian mobile operator instead of a physical one. eSim has the same functions as a plastic card, but you don't need to insert it into your smartphone.

You can use both an eSIM and a standard SIM card simultaneously, and both numbers will be active.

One of the five numbers on an eSim card is active, and it can be easily changed in the phone's settings.

Starlink's satellite internet connectivity has been rapidly growing in Ukraine, with traffic increasing by over 530% between mid-March and mid-May 2022.

Between November and December 2022, Starlink represented between 0.22% and 0.3% of traffic from Ukraine.

Kyivstar PJSC is the largest Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Ukraine, with a market share of 20%. This means that they provide internet services to the majority of users in the country.

The top 5 ISPs in Ukraine by market share are:

These ISPs play a crucial role in providing internet access to Ukrainian citizens, and their market share is a reflection of their popularity and reliability.

The internet in Ukraine is a rapidly growing industry.

According to the article, 64% of the Ukrainian population uses the internet, making it a significant part of daily life.

Ukraine has made significant progress in internet penetration, with urban areas having a higher internet usage rate than rural areas.

In 2020, the number of internet users in Ukraine reached 22 million.

The majority of internet users in Ukraine access the internet through mobile devices, with 72% of users accessing the internet via mobile phones.

Ukraine has a relatively high mobile internet penetration rate, with 77% of the population having access to mobile internet.

The average internet speed in Ukraine is 25.65 Mbps, which is relatively fast compared to other countries in the region.

Ukraine's internet infrastructure is improving, with more internet service providers (ISPs) offering high-speed internet services.

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