CRDF Global Helps Strengthen Ukraine’s Cyber Resilience through Women’s Leadership in Cybersecurity and OSINT

SHE DEFENDS leaders

CRDF Global, in partnership with the National Cybersecurity Coordination Center (NCCC) under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and Cyber Unit Technologies, successfully conducted All-Ukrainian Women’s Cyber Competition and Training “SHE DEFENDS: CYBER & OSINT” on January 22, 2026.

She Defends Female Training

Supported by Global Affairs Canada, the hybrid event engaged over 130 participants from across Ukraine. Representing a wide range of government security and defense agencies, academia, and the private sector, the initiative focused on a critical mission: reducing gender disparities in high-stakes technical roles.

By equipping women cybersecurity professionals and students with advanced operational skills, “SHE DEFENDS” ensures that Ukraine’s cyber posture is not only stronger but more inclusive and representative of its entire talent pool.

The training transcended traditional classroom learning, offering an immersive, high-pressure environment where participants faced modern digital threats. Key components included:

  • Advanced OSINT Training: Practical sessions in Open-Source Intelligence to track and analyze emerging threats.
  • Immersive CTF Competition: A “Capture the Flag” challenge featuring realistic APT (Advanced Persistent Threat) and AI-driven scenarios.

Beyond technical mastery, the team-based format fostered collaboration, peer learning, and confidence-building, reinforcing women’s leadership, technical credibility, and visibility within Ukraine’s cybersecurity ecosystem.

By investing in women’s technical expertise, SHE DEFENDS: CYBER & OSINT event demonstrated how gender-responsive capacity building enhances institutional resilience, operational effectiveness, and long-term security outcomes. This initiative underscores Canada’s ongoing commitment to advancing gender equality and digital resilience, ensuring that those defending Ukraine’s digital borders are as diverse as the nation they protect.