Robert Dannenberg, Former CIA Chief of Operations for the Counterterrorism Center, Chief of the Central Eurasia Division, Chief of the Information Operations (Cyber) Center gailed Ukraine’s significant progress in military domain and, in particular, in developing its intelligence. 

He mentioned this at the 17th Annual Kyiv Security Forum “UA: UNITE AGAIN TO DEFEAT THE GLOBAL AGGRESSOR”, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation “Open Ukraine”.

“I am very impressed by what Ukraine has achieved in military sphere, specifically in intelligence. Indeed, it was a hard task. We had to, so to speak, forget aboutall we learned in Soviet times. At times, this is a rather personal issue to many. Namely, the need to employ new tools, gain new experience and apply it in military context,” Robert Dannenberg emphasized.

He noted that “we often talk about Ukraine’s successes on the battlefield, including in technology, but we also need to pay attention to security and intelligence sectors.”

Robert Dannenberg emphasized that nothing galvanizes action and resources like war.

“And in many ways, what Ukraine has done, starting in 2014, but especially since February 2022, demonstrates understanding of the very nature of immediate threats. And this gives us, the Western intelligence community, opportunities to learn certain lessons. People like to use the term “existential threat.” Speaking about the Russians’ attitude towards Ukraine, it really is the matter of life and death. The existential threat,” the General believes.

The Kyiv Security Forum, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” foundation, is the main platform in Ukraine to discuss issues of war and peace, national and global security.