Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the launch of the “Army of Robots” initiative on Sept. 26. The project aims to protect the lives of frontline military personnel through advanced battlefield robotics.
Fedorov Launches “Army of Robots” to Shield Frontline Troops
Fedorov detailed the new project on Telegram. He drew a parallel to the launch of the “Army of Drones” initiative in 2022 when unmanned aerial vehicles first began fundamentally reshaping modern warfare.
Drones currently account for more than 95% of battlefield targeting achievements. Over 700 domestic uncrewed aerial vehicle manufacturers operate inside Ukraine.
Despite this widespread adoption, he emphasized that technological warfare continues to evolve rapidly. This requires a decisive shift toward widespread robotic integration to safeguard human lives.
Shifting High-Risk Combat Duties From Soldiers to Machines
Fedorov outlined a specific operational model for how robotic systems will integrate into ground combat operations. The core objective of the initiative is to ensure that the most dangerous combat duties are assigned to machines rather than human soldiers.
“The future of the battlefield should be like this: first a sensor sees a threat, then a robot enters the danger zone,” Fedorov stated.
Deploying Humanoid Systems for Evacuation and Mine Operations
Humanoid-style robots are intended to handle high-risk tasks. These include evacuating wounded personnel, transporting ammunition, laying and clearing mines, conducting reconnaissance, defending positions, and striking targets before human troops face those hazards.
Building an Interconnected Engineering Ecosystem
The project is structured as an interconnected ecosystem rather than a single corporate venture.
Fedorov identified the primary strategic challenge as Russia’s ability to rapidly copy and scale military technology. This necessitates a proactive approach that consolidates top engineering talent, military experience, capital, and technology.
Private Sector Transition and Call for Specialists
Operating now from the private sector outside of government, Fedorov confirmed his continued involvement in shaping Ukraine’s technological warfare vision across air, land, and economic sectors.
He called on engineering and defense specialists to join the initiative to drive the next phase of military automation.
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