Fedorov proposes private robot army to replace human soldiers in Ukraine
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s former defense minister, announced plans to create a private-sector robot army at IT Arena 2026 in Lviv. He cited drones, which now account for over 95% of target engagements, as proof of the shift toward autonomous warfare. Ukraine hosts over 700 drone manufacturers, and AI-powered combat data from its conflicts has been sold to the UK as an export product, according…
Key points
- Fedorov claims drones now cover over 95% of target engagements in Ukraine’s conflicts
- Ukraine has over 700 drone manufacturers, with AI combat data sold to the UK
- His private robot army project lacks clear details on autonomous attack decisions
Fedorov’s initiative, backed by a militaristic trailer and an ‘Army of Robots’ website, aims to fund private defense firms, develop new tech, and test systems with the military. His goal is ‘full-scale battlefield robotisation,’ though details on autonomous decision-making remain unclear. The move follows years of UN debates on autonomous weapons and reflects how Ukraine’s war has accelerated public and private interest in military robotics.
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Fedorov pitches a private-sector robot army
The Decoder · 26 September 2026
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