EU deploys cyber rapid-response team

A newly formed cyber rapid-response team is being deployed across Europe, after a call for help from Ukraine.

Consisting of eight to 12 experts, from Lithuania, Croatia, Poland, Estonia, Romania, and the Netherlands, the team has committed to help defend Ukraine from cyber-attacks - remotely and on site in the country.

An official warned that attacks were likely. The warning follows the UK and the US blaming Russia for cyber attacks earlier this month that temporarily took a small number of Ukrainian banking and government websites offline.

CRRTs are a European Union initiative to deepen defence and co-operation between member states. They are said to be equipped with commonly developed cyber toolkits designed to detect, recognise and mitigate cyber threats.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defence tweeted: "In response to Ukraine request, [we] are activating [a] Lithuanian-led cyber rapid-response team, which will help Ukrainian institutions to cope with growing cyber-threats. #StandWithUkraine."