Mykhailo Fedorov: Technology is one of the advantages of our army. Thanks to the development of military technology, our defenders see the enemy in real time and make effective management decisions.
The first of these technologies is Starlink. Terminals have become an information infrastructure. Thanks to them, the military keeps in touch in the field or in the trenches. Without Starlink, waging this online war would be impossible. The second type of equipment is UAVs, that is, reconnaissance, strike and UAVs. These are the “eyes” of our army.
The third is systems situational awareness. In particular, delta, when data from various resources can be brought to a single platform (delta combines information about the location of enemy forces and their assets, allows you to track the location of enemy forces in real time and quickly record detected objects in order to destroy them – ed.). We understand the technologies needed to achieve our victory and are currently focused on developing them.
What devices are you missing the most right now?
There is a constant demand for drones of various classes. First of all, we need reconnaissance drones that can see up to 50 km. Thanks to them, we can follow the front lines and monitor our own units to understand what is happening on our flanks.
The rest of the text is below the video.
This equipment is changing the face of war. “Drone Army”
How has enemy equipment changed over the years?
The Russians are also using the technology on the battlefield. In particular, unmanned aerial vehicles and situational awareness systems. However, our military has a huge advantage – Starlink. Thanks to this, our army can be faster. On the other hand, the enemy has more financial resources. If every Mavic (drone) is important to our army, Russian units can quickly make up for what they have lost – get a new one and put it into service.
Ukrainian Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov during the Web Summit 2022 – a conference on new technologies
You are in charge of the “Drone Army” project. What are the successes?
In the early days of total war, we communicated extensively with the military to determine their technology needs. Most of them talked about drones. After President Volodymyr Zelensky began Create UNITED24 (Fundraising platforms – Ed.), One of the first fundraising platform projects was the “Drone Army”. It is a joint project of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Communications Service, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and UNITED24.
The “Drone Army” has already contracted 1,879 drones worth more than UAH 3.7 billion, and more than 5,000 have been trained in 24 specialized schools. staff. This year we saw how important and effective drones can be. They conduct reconnaissance, help destroy the enemy, and most importantly, they save the lives of our army.
We’re also working to ensure the military brings drones to the battlefield faster. We recently adopted the Fast Track for UAVs and their components. In other words, we have simplified their import into Ukraine at the legislative level. On the one hand, we are stimulating the development of Ukrainian UAV production.
Ukrainian soldier controlling a drone
In our previous interview, you said that Ukraine is winning on the electronic front. What is the situation now, are the attacks continuing?
The world’s first electronic warfare takes place right next to the real battlefield. It started before the physical invasion. The number and strength of cyberattacks increased dramatically in November 2021 and continued into December and January. We’ve been able to stand up to them because over the past three years we’ve done many fundamental things to enhance our cyber resilience, engaged with international partners and invested in this area.
Russia continues to launch attacks in cyberspace. In total, since the beginning of the mass invasion, it has conducted more than 2,000 tests. Cafe attack. However, they did not achieve their goals. There has not been a single leak of critical information since then. All this thanks to a specific security system that prevents the enemy from entering our IT systems.
We constantly protect our resources and counterattack. Cases can be seen on social media, on the pages of volunteers from the IT army. In total, our IT army has 200,000. Supporters and active participants who help neutralize enemy resources. They attacked more than 15,000 a year. websites. From blocking propaganda media to suspending the websites of Russian companies and banks. Over the course of a year, our IT army has shut down enemy ministries, crippled shipping logistics, halted business operations, and more. So the advantage in cyberspace is definitely on our side. This is a systematic work that cyber volunteers and all cyber security authorities in the country do every day.
Manuel Fayol of the United Nations Satellite Center (UNOSAT) points out during a joint press presentation by UNESCO and UNOSAT about a new platform that will record and monitor the destruction of cultural objects in Ukraine
How does artificial intelligence search for Russian soldiers?
What are the most attacked resources this year?
Russians often attack government organizations and bodies, the security and defense sector, and the commercial sector.
How does the body recognition system for Russian soldiers work now?
We have used this technology since the early days of the war on a large scale. This also applies to artificial intelligence. For example, we use it to search for the social media accounts of deceased Russian soldiers to inform their relatives of the death. It is also our tool in the information war. Artificial intelligence also helped us with identification Criminals who killed and looted in Ukraine. In particular, in the Kiev region. War criminals must remember that anyone caught on camera can be identified. They will not be able to escape punishment.
Exhume the victims of the Iseum crime
The Diia application provides the opportunity to submit a request for the restoration of housing destroyed in a large-scale war. How many applications have you received this year?
Yes, Ukrainians can apply for damaged property in dia. During this time, we have received over 330,000. Applications through the Diia portal and application from Ukrainians whose homes were destroyed or damaged as a result of Russian aggression. In addition to the website, together with our partners, we have launched the Damaged Property Registry, which stores this information. This record will become the basis for developing an effective reconstruction plan and compensating Ukrainians for their losses.
This year we also saw Elon Musk’s transformation. Six months ago, in an interview, we talked about the Musk family being good friends of Ukraine. What do you think of the impact of this change and how do you communicate now with Elon Musk and his brother?
I can only speak of contradictions Elon Musk’s actions. He is one of the largest private donors to our future victory. We estimate that SpaceX’s contribution is more than $100 million. We still communicate today. We get Starlink working. This is the most important thing for us.
How Zelensky stimulated society. “Ukrainians continue to amaze the world”
How did the ministry change during the war year? What are the priorities and areas of action?
The war posed new challenges for the Ministry, to which we responded quickly and were able to implement new projects in a short time. Every day I am convinced that managing the system is the most important thing to focus on when building a team.
The main objectives of the Ministry of Digital Transformation have not changed: 100 percent digitization. Public services, teaching people digital skills, developing the digital economy and Internet infrastructure. We continue to build the world’s most comfortable digital nation even during a full-scale war. However, new priorities have emerged. For example, the development of the military technology sector. We’ve made this area a priority because we know that technology on the battlefield helps bring us closer to victory and helps save the lives of our military.
How do you think President Volodymyr Zelensky has changed this year?
President Zelensky did a great job with his stay in Kiev. It stimulated society and became a healthy cell that infects all other living things with this energy. And now Ukrainians continue to amaze the world with their courage, resilience and creativity.
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