The 16th Ukrainian Internet Governance Forum IGF-UA 2025 Took Place in Kyiv

The forum was organized in a hybrid format: the majority of participants joined online, while the offline part took place in a secure venue. The event was also accompanied by live online streaming and simultaneous interpretation in Ukrainian and English.

IGF-UA traditionally serves as a platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue on the future of the Internet in Ukraine. This year, the discussions involved representatives from government bodies, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, the academic community, and the media.

Key Topics of the Forum

The program included seven thematic sessions dedicated to the most pressing challenges in the digital sphere:

• Cyber resilience and the role of artificial intelligence;
• Digital de-occupation and countering russian influence in the internet space;
• Women’s participation in electronic communications;
• Resilience of internet access during wartime;
• Combating cybercrime (approaches of the Council of Europe and the UN);
• Development of the domain name space;
• The future of global Internet governance.

Particular attention was paid to issues of cybersecurity, digital sovereignty, and the restoration of internet infrastructure in de-occupied territories.

Main Conclusions

At the end of the forum, participants noted that:

• The digital front has become one of the key areas of state defense;
• Cyber resilience requires close cooperation between the state, business, and society;
• Ukraine’s experience in ensuring internet operation during wartime is unique and can be applied at the global level;
• International cooperation remains critically important for the development of a secure digital environment.

The importance of developing human potential was also emphasized, particularly the involvement of youth and women in the fields of cybersecurity and internet governance.

Participants

A significant number of participants from Ukraine and several other countries took part in the Forum. They represented government institutions, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, the academic and technical communities, media, and youth.

Since the forum was held in a videoconference format, anyone interested could follow the proceedings in real time without registration. Registered participants had the opportunity to take part directly in the forum. Unregistered participants could provide feedback through the chat and email.

Youth Track

As part of the forum, the VIII Youth IGF-UA was held, which served as a platform for discussing disinformation, cybersecurity, and international opportunities for Ukrainian youth. Participants presented practical cases and exchanged experience with international experts.