Ex-DM Fedorov announces launch of Army of Robots project

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the launch of the Army of Robots project on September 26, 2023, according to a post on X. The project aims to increase the use of robotic systems on the front line to minimize risks to service members, Fedorov stated. He described robotization as the next technological breakthrough needed in warfare, noting that the most dangerous tasks should be performed by robots, allowing human soldiers to return home.

Fedorov envisioned a battlefield where sensor technology identifies threats, followed by humanoid-like robots entering the danger zone to clear mines, evacuate wounded, provide ammunition, conduct reconnaissance, defend positions, and strike targets. He explained that Ukraine's primary challenge is Russia's ability to rapidly replicate and scale military technologies, which forces Ukraine to constantly develop new technological cycles ahead of Russia.

The Army of Robots is not a single company but an ecosystem, according to Fedorov. The initiative plans to invest in defense-tech companies, launch its own technology projects, build R&D capacity, test solutions with the military, and scale up what works on the battlefield. In November 2023, Fedorov announced the creation of a robot army and an electronic warfare army while serving as Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation.

In March 2024, he revealed plans for mass production of robotic ground platforms capable of destroying enemy positions and equipment, clearing mines, evacuating wounded, and delivering ammunition. By April 2025, The Telegraph reported that Ukraine's "war of robots" was already in progress, with at least one fully robotic assault.