Re: Like I've said before
DS999,
Ukraine is going to emerge from this war far and away the world's experts in defending against malware of all types
This is true. There's going to be big opportunities for Ukrainian security companies. Or if Ukraine are less lucky - lots of their talent will get poached abroad. Although from what I've read, they've been getting lots of help from a few NATO countries - who I'm sure are also eager to learn important lessons while they help.
The other related problem that Russia have got is Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR). They're similar to Russia's GRU in that they are a traditional intelligence gathering agency who also have a paramilitary side and also get involved in "active measures". Although I don't think they're as military as GRU - who control an awful lot of field forces (Spetznaz have multiple brigade sized units). I've read they were the least penetrated by Russia of Ukraine's intelligence services, but they've used the war to clean house and they've been rather successful and effective since. I think that Russia have created a new Mossad on their doorstep.
The Russians started an intelligence war with the West at least 15 years ago. With the poisoning of Litvinenko and increasing as they faced very few consequences. Using a lot more aggressive methods than the Soviets did in the Cold War. The Cold War KGB/GRU wouldn't have tried to murder an ex member who'd been exchanged, i.e. Skripal. Exchange is like a pardon, you don't exchange someone who still has too much useful info, unless you're getting someone even better in return - but the point is you're getting your guy back in return. So if you murder theirs, they might kill yours. Also I don't remember GRU literally blowing up arms warehouses in NATO countries, as they did with that Czech warehouse ten years ago - killing a random security guard. We're a bit too vegetarian now, as our intel services can't respond in kind. It would be a massive political scandal if they did. But Ukraine's can. And after this war, they're hopefully going to be our allies. So now, if we really want to do something that our political oversight won't allow - our intel services can just give some really juicy intel to GUR, in exchange for something nasty to happen to Russian intellitgence.
Similarly Ukraine's cyber warfare agencies will be a lot less squeamish than ours. If Putin can't destroy Ukraine, he's going to regret forging it in fire, into an implacable enemy with some pretty well trained spooks. And also a lot fewer scruples than other countries he's decided to get into conflict with. Much easier to attack the UK and assume we won't do anything too underhanded in revenge (a mistake on our part - perceived weakness provokes more attacks) - I don't think he can safely predict how far Ukraine will be willing to push back.