Ukraine’s Secret Weapon, 'Kropyva' Software

Ukraine is breaking world records using antiquated Soviet-era equipment. Over the course of the full-scale invasion, a Ukrainian sniper has broken the world record for the longest sniper kill. On a separate occasion, a British Challenger Tank, operated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, allegedly doubled the current world record for the longest tank-to-tank kill. So, how is Ukraine achieving these remarkable feats? The answer—software. The creator of one such software comes from a Ukrainian Non-Profit called Army SOS.

How Army SOS was created

Army SOS volunteer Artem Palyutin is a businessman with disruptive tendencies. In 2014, he supplied tires to protestors in Maidan to use as incendiary barricades against police. These protests were in response to Viktor Yanukovych and his government’s decision to abandon an association agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia. When Russia subsequently invaded Donbas and Crimea, Palyutin and his friends decided to take things further and formed what is now Army SOS.

“At the first stage we did anything,” Palyutin explains. The newly found charity, Army SOS, supplied food for soldiers and civilians in Donbas. “It was new, grassroots, people-to-people,” he says, explaining how at that time the concept of charity was still somewhat novel in Ukraine.

Palyutin and his partners did not formalize the charitable organization until much later. “I would just stand outside the shop and ladies would say, please can you help me,” says Palyutin who would then go into the store and buy what was needed. After 10 years, Army SOS is focued on implementing high-tech solutions for Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

Ukraine’s Kropyva software

In 2015, while continuing to provide humanitarian aid to Donbas, Army SOS shifted its focus to technology. Drawing on the expertise of radio technicians in the early team, they began developing software. Today, nearly 200,000 installations of their software, Kropyva, are used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

At the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, as bombs fell on his home city of Kyiv, Palyutin says he found himself thinking about what he could do to protect Ukraine’s skies. He recounts a meeting with air defense specialists to develop the Kropyva program. The development of the software was funded by a group of wealthy Ukrainian donors, whom Palyutin credits his business background for helping him attract by presenting Kropyva in a way that appealed to investors.

The word Kropyva translates to “nettle”, a type of plant known for its stinging hairs. As a command and control software Kropyva allows seamless communication between different units or teams, ensuring that information is passed quickly and efficiently. It can be used to share locations of enemy forces or objects, intelligence, and give orders in real-time, helping all involved parties stay aligned and synchronized.

Kropyva’s impact

The feedback Palyutin has received for Kropyva has been overwhelmingly positive with one American General saying the software was “incredible”. Amongst the Ukrainian Armed Forces Kropyva is viewed as a kind of kryptonite. With it, soldiers are capable of accomplishing nearly impossible feats with antiquated Soviet-era equipment.

The software has a wide range of applications across Ukraine’s armed forces. One key feature is its ability to map minefields, which helps create safe routes for medical evacuations. If a soldier is killed in action, the software can pinpoint their location for later retrieval. This is crucial not only for providing peace of mind to families but also for ensuring that payments are made to the families of fallen soldiers.

Another key function of the software is in air defense, where it receives data on incoming enemy threats, calculates their speed and other environmental factors, and then provides the precise firing coordinates needed to neutralize the target. Its ability to integrate ballistic calculators and complex formulas—accounting for wind speed, earth curvature, and other variables—was instrumental in achieving feats like the longest sniper kill.

The primary function of Command and Control is to integrate multiple systems into one cohesive operation. Using a network of satellites and radio frequencies, Kropyva tracks Ukraine’s airspace. “We know the position of all our enemies,” says Palyutin, pointing to a live map of Ukraine’s skies. He adds that the software is now being enhanced with AI to identify different Russian tanks and other threats.

With so much information in one place, Kropyva has inevitably found itself susceptible to hacking. “We have [had] situations when Russians take our information and it’s a problem,” explains Palyutin. “But we hack their system [too]. It’s a battle all the time.” Users of Kropyva, including frontline soldiers, can only access the information relevant to their specific roles, with each having their own unique username and password. If ever found in the wrong hands, Kropyva has the ability to self-destruct.

Government oversight

Perhaps what makes Army SOS so unique is that it operates independently of government oversight. Army SOS’s origins in supplying tires for incendiary barricades during the Revolution of Dignity underscore their commitment to prioritizing “our moral compass” first and foremost.

Army SOS has no boss and is guided only by its desire to help Ukraine. There is no doubt however that Palyutin and his colleagues are privy to more information than your average Jo.

Much of this information comes in the form of maps. Palyutin shares his passion for mapping, hinting that some of these maps are being used for counterintelligence purposes. “After the invasion, I created maps of Russian territory,” he says, explaining that the information is regularly updated and shared with Ukrainian troops for operations, including targeting within Russia. When asked if the software was used to strike high-profile targets like the Kerch Bridge, he responds with a knowing smile.

There is no doubt that Palyutin has involved himself beyond the call of duty. Kropyva software poses a huge threat to Russian offensive forces and somewhere in a FSB  office, there is likely a file on Palyutin. When asked if he ever worries for his personal safety he answers, “It is my fate. My wife and I made a decision to live in Kyiv until the end of our time, of our life.” Palyutin is a patriot and although his business has brought him around the world, he feels a sense of duty to do what he can to defend his home. “Now we need to fight.”

Giving back has always been part of Palyutin’s nature. He points to a park across the way, “I created this park when I bought this apartment.” What was once an empty, trash-filled lot has been transformed into lush, rolling gardens where mothers and dogs now come to relax amidst the urban sprawl of Kyiv. Palyutin worked with the city government for over 10 years to make it possible.

Palyutin’s story echoes that of many Ukrainians who have put everything on the line to serve their country. Three years into war he is tired but his resolve is steadfast. “I want to rest. I want to live by the sea, and maybe sometimes in Manhatten,” he jokes. “I want to enjoy my life. But I [also] enjoy killing fucking Russians.”

Palyutin recounts the surge of pride he felt when Kropyva software was first used to intercept a Russian Kinzhal missile, a hypersonic missile typically carried by a MiG-31K fighter jet. “I’m very proud because a little part of this win is mine,” he says, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Mischief managed

Ukraine as a country is home to some of the world’s brightest tech minds who are using their knowledge to optimize battlefield operations. Militaries across the globe have witnessed how the country has modernized, especially in the case of drone warfare, in unique and cost-effective ways. A $300 drone for example can now achieve the same results as a $3,000 unguided artillery shell- but with even more precision. Likewise, for $150 Kropyva can be downloaded onto an Android-based tablet transforming it into an automated precision guidance system.

Ukraine’s military has found a powerful ally in Kropyva, a cutting-edge software developed by the non-profit Army SOS. Despite facing overwhelming challenges, Ukraine’s armed forces are achieving impressive results thanks to this technology. Kropyva streamlines communication improves targeting, and enhances coordination across different units, making it a vital tool in everything from air defense to minefield mapping. In the face of adversity, Ukraine’s ability to adapt and innovate is proving to be a game-changer on the battlefield.

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