NEWS · STARTUPS · #1079
Ex-Ukrainian defense minister pitches private 'Army of Robots' combat-robot program
At IT Arena 2026 in Lviv, former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov promoted a private-sector 'Army of Robots' program, sharing a militaristic trailer and a website and saying he will invest in and test systems with the military; he also claimed drones now account for over 95% of target engagements and noted Ukraine has 700+ drone manufacturers. It is unclear whether proposed systems would make autonomous attack decisions, and the initiative appears aimed both at intimidating Russia and attracting investors.
KEY POINTS
- At IT Arena 2026 in Lviv, former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov promoted a private-sector 'Army of Robots' program, sharing a militaristic trailer and a website and saying he will invest in and test systems with the military; he also claimed drones now account for over 95% of target engagements and noted Ukraine has 700+ drone manufacturers.
- It is unclear whether proposed systems would make autonomous attack decisions, and the initiative appears aimed both at intimidating Russia and attracting investors.
- The move signals faster private-sector deployment of combat robotics and raises policy, ethical and proliferation concerns about autonomous weapons.
WHY IT MATTERS
The move signals faster private-sector deployment of combat robotics and raises policy, ethical and proliferation concerns about autonomous weapons.