Fedorov announces private "Army of Robots" initiative for military robotics
Former Ukrainian minister Fedorov has launched the "Army of Robots" initiative to privatize military robotics; according to him, drones account for more than 95% of target hits, and the program is to be financed by private companies.
Former Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov announced an initiative called "Army of Robots" at the IT Arena 2026 conference in Lviv, aiming to privatize the development and deployment of military robotics and autonomous combat systems. According to Fedorov, drones now account for more than 95 percent of all target hits in ongoing operations, though he did not specify over what period or for which operations this figure applies. Ukraine, he said, has more than 700 drone manufacturers.
The program is to be financed and run by the private sector — Fedorov plans to invest in companies, launch his own technology projects, and test functional systems with the military at scale. On Telegram, he wrote: "Robots should fight, not people." The initiative is accompanied by a promotional video and the "Army of Robots" website, though according to the source, the humanoid robots shown in the trailer are not militarily ready and their real battlefield value is uncertain.
It remains unclear whether autonomous systems under the program would be meant to decide on an attack independently, without human intervention — according to the source, this is reportedly already happening with drones. The announcement comes as discussions at the UN level continue on restricting autonomous weapons, highlighting the gap between the international debate and practical developments on the battlefield.
Why it matters
The initiative illustrates how the war in Ukraine has pushed the public debate on autonomous weapons toward practical deployment, while discussions at the UN level on restricting them continue. A key question remains unresolved — whether autonomous systems will decide on an attack without human intervention — with a documented indication that this is reportedly already happening with drones.
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