Former Ukrainian defense minister unveils 'Army of Robots' to accelerate autonomous warfare

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Sunday announced that he was launching a new defense tech initiative called “Army of Robots,” modeled on the success of his Army of Drones project that was launched in 2022.

Fedorov was controversially dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July and has since turned his attention to defense tech, launching a fund and his own company.

According to Fedorov, the concept would see humanoid robots operating autonomously alongside unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and other unmanned weapons systems.

"There will be humanoid robots that will perform simple tasks: reloading a machine gun, replacing a battery, or installing a sensor. These are things a robot can be taught quickly and carry out after a rapid deployment to the battlefield,” he said at the launch.

The broader concepts would see humanoid robots playing active combat roles on the battlefield, including engaging hostile forces, reducing the need to expose human troops to danger.

While still an early-stage initiative, Ukrainska Pravda reported that Fedorov aims to have a humanoid robot kill a Russian soldier within the first six months of the program’s launch.

“Russia is quickly copying technologies and putting them into production. The answer is not more people on the front lines, but full autonomy: robots that fight, scout, evacuate, and supply. Ukraine needs its own Manhattan Project for Physical AI,” it reads on the initiative’s website.

Defense innovation hub

Ukraine’s Armed Forces have dramatically expanded their use of unmanned systems in 2026, placing more than 590,000 drone orders through the government’s Brave1 Market since January, according to new figures released by the country’s Defense Ministry. 

Interceptor drones, designed to hunt Russian reconnaissance UAVs and counter Shahed-type one-way attack drones, have become the most frequently ordered category.

Copter-type FPV kamikaze drones remain the second-most requested, while fixed-wing kamikaze UAVs have shown the fastest growth, with peak monthly orders reaching six times the January level.

Bomber drones account for the largest share of spending, and “mothership” drones that are used to deploy smaller UAVs rank among the most expensive technologies.

Brave1, launched in 2023 by the Ukrainian government, fast-tracks military innovation by funding developers, testing and certifying new platforms, and connecting them directly with front-line units. The wartime pipeline has moved ideas to prototypes to deployment in weeks rather than months or years.

Last week, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said that 650 additional types of drones had been accepted in the army with strike copters accounting for the largest number (238) of newly codified models. Another 231 fiber optic platforms were accepted, followed by 42 new interceptor drones, 32 mid-strikes UAVs that strike Russian logistic targets, and nine deep-strike drones that strike far into Russian territory.

Completed combat missions increase ePoints, driving procurement

Brave1 uses a digital marketplace and ePoints system to let combat units acquire drones, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and electronic-‑warfare tools based on completed combat missions including confirmed reconnaissance, strike operations, and robotic logistics or evacuation tasks. These points can be exchanged for drones, unmanned ground vehicles, and electronic warfare equipment.

Manufacturers can also track how their equipment is used on the battlefield, providing quick combat feedback.

According to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, June marked the highest monthly procurement volume to date, exceeding UAH 5 billion (about $111 million), and average delivery time for stocked items fell to eight days.

Like drones, Ukraine has rapidly expanded its use of UGVs, with dozens of companies producing systems for logistics, reconnaissance, and strike missions. UGVs now appear across multiple brigades and are used daily in trench and urban operations to reduce the risk to soldiers.

Ukrainian media have reported that the number of units using UGVs has increased from 67 in late 2025 to 167 by the spring of 2026.

International partnerships expand

Ukraine launched Brave International in June, establishing a framework for international initiatives, including UNITE Brave NATO, Brave Norway, Brave France, Brave Germany, and Brave Lithuania. The budget for the first programs under Brave International exceeded €100 million already in June, and all competitions are open to Ukrainian and foreign companies.

The initiative is a central aspect of Ukraine’s broader strategy to become a hub for defense innovation. Brave1 supports thousands of tech solutions for the front lines and has attracted interest from global investors and partners as small start-ups have become instrumental in holding off Russian forces.

In July, Airbus Defence and Space became the first Western industrial partner to join Brave1. Canada has also announced plans to build its own defense-drone marketplace using the Brave1 model as a foundation.