Robots Will Outnumber Soldiers on the Battlefield, Minister of Ukraine’s Digital Transformation Says

Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, in a recent interview with Le Monde, stressed the importance of using unexpected technologies in warfare, emphasizing, “Asymmetrical warfare means using technologies that the enemy doesn’t expect.”

Fedorov has been a driving force behind the Army of Drones initiative, which aims to integrate advanced technology into the Ukrainian military. In an interview, he stated that while robotization alone won’t defeat Russian forces, it plays a crucial role in the war and must be “integrated into the culture” of the Ukrainian army.

As the latest example shows, on the night of August 8, Ukrainian forces, in conjunction with a ground incursion on Russian territory, claimed responsibility for a drone attack on an air base in the Lipetsk region.

When asked about the ministry’s most impactful achievement on the battlefield, Fedorov pointed to the Army of Drones project. This initiative has created a competitive market that has dramatically boosted drone production. By 2023, production surged 120 times, from several thousand units to over a million, with even more on the horizon. The market for ground-based robotic platforms and electronic warfare systems is also rapidly growing, both tactically and strategically, along with advancements in artificial intelligence and drone ammunition production.

Additionally, Fedorov pointed out that thousands of drones are deployed at the front with ranges of 40 to 60 kilometers, and that Ukraine has the ability to monitor the location of each drone in realtime and determine where they are conducting reconnaissance on the front lines

Fedorov explained that Ukraine is actively seeking essential technologies for warfare and is doing everything possible to stimulate markets and initiate orders and purchases for these products.

For instance, robot dogs, designed to perform dangerous tasks like inspecting Russian trenches or detecting mines, are currently being tested. Through the Brave1 platform, an incubator for high-tech military projects modeled after the US agency DARPA, Ukraine is fostering scientific and research expertise, enabling the cultivation and funding of talent.

Earlier, in February, the government adopted a resolution allowing mass drone procurement through the Prozorro system. The state began conducting tenders for Mavics, Autels, Matrices, and other mass-market drones.

Following the same principles that guided the growth of the UAV market, Ukraine has also expanded the market for electronic warfare systems and ground-based robotic platforms. Ukraine’s current focus is now shifting toward missile development, with the President already announcing the launch of a missile program.

Robotic dogs have already been spotted on the battlefield in Ukraine. Soldiers from the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine have showcased the use of a robotic dog directly on the front line through social media.