# OpenAI Partners with Ukraine to Protect Infrastructure

OpenAI has partnered with the Ukrainian government to deliver advanced AI-driven cybersecurity tools and provide over **$1 billion in subsidized computing resources** through the Daybreak program, announced in September 2026. This initiative aims to enhance automation and incident response capabilities to safeguard Ukraine's critical infrastructure, including power grids and water systems, amid ongoing cyber threats. The program emphasizes augmenting human cyber defenders rather than replacing them, accelerating response times to cyberattacks. This partnership also signals potential expansion of AI cybersecurity solutions to other governments and industries globally.

- **Why this matters:** Procurement professionals should note the significant investment in AI cybersecurity tools for critical infrastructure protection, highlighting growing demand for advanced automation in cyber defense.
- The scale and scope of subsidized computing resources indicate opportunities for vendors specializing in AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity services.
- Organizations supporting government infrastructure protection can leverage this model to propose similar AI-enabled solutions in other jurisdictions.
- The emphasis on human-AI collaboration in cybersecurity suggests procurement requirements will prioritize integration capabilities and rapid incident response enhancements.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology
**Topics:** Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** September 23, 2026

### Government Entities
- Ukrainian Government
- U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee

### Vendors
- OpenAI (prime contractor)

### Key Quotes
> We have this window of time to take action and we’re really motivated by the idea that we need to act with some urgency.
> — Sasha Baker, National Security Policy Head, OpenAI

> This is why the object is not to replace the cyber defender with AI, but to make sure the cyber defender acts faster.
> — Dmytro Kushneruk, Consul General of Ukraine in San Francisco

### Sources
- [OpenAI, Ukraine partner on ‘Daybreak’ program to protect power grids and water systems  | CyberScoop](https://cyberscoop.com/openai-ukraine-cybersecurity-critical-infrastructure) - CyberScoop