Another agency to officially work for defense needs in Ukraine
31 March 15:28
The government proposes to the Verkhovna Rada to amend the Law of Ukraine “On National Security of Ukraine” regarding the activities of bodies that are part of the security and defense sector. The registration of the relevant draft law is reported on the parliament’s website, according to
The reason for updating the law was the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the need to establish a central executive body with the authority to implement state policy in the field of innovation, technology, and robotics, to conduct tests and research on innovative technologies, including dual-use and military technologies.
Given that such functions are already vested in the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, as well as to save budgetary funds and resolve the above issue more quickly, the law proposes to grant the Ministry of Digital Transformation the status of a defense ministry.
What opportunities does this status provide for?
The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, in accordance with its updated powers:
– determine priority areas in the development of robotics, robotization, unmanned systems and other innovative technologies for defense needs, including dual-use and military technologies;
– ensure regulatory and legal regulation in this area, as well as develop and organize the implementation of relevant state programs;
– promote the development of domestic production of robotics, unmanned systems and other innovative technologies for defense needs;
– organize the provision of financial support to business entities engaged in the development and production of robotics, unmanned systems and other innovative technologies for defense needs, including dual-use and military technologies;
– organize and coordinate the testing and research of robotics, unmanned systems and other innovative technologies, the development of scientific research in this area, create and maintain the relevant infrastructure, as well as interaction between business entities involved in this area;
– The Ministry will also facilitate the organization of the provision of the security and defense sector with robotics, unmanned systems and other innovative technologies, including dual-use and military applications, in order to stimulate the effectiveness of the combat use of the relevant technologies.
It is expected that the assignment of the Ministry of Digital Transformation to the security and defense sector will improve the provision of robotics, unmanned systems and other innovative technologies, including dual-use and military technologies, as well as increase the efficiency of combat use of relevant technologies.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation has extensive experience in working for defense needs
The Ministry initiated the creation of the Brave1 platform, which was launched in April 2023 to stimulate the development of military innovations and defense technologies.
As of mid-December last year, more than 3,200 developments from more than 1,400 manufacturers were registered on the Brave1 platform. More than 230 developments have been codified in accordance with NATO standards.
According to Natalia Kushnerska, CEO of Brave1, at the Defense Tech Innovations Forum-2025, it is planned to attract $100 million in investments in the Ukrainian defense tech sector in 2025.
The first study of the drone manufacturing sector conducted by the Kyiv School of Economics and the Brave1 cluster showed that in 2024, compared to 2023, the production capacity of the Ukrainian drone industry increased more than 10 times. According to the study, after mass production was established, the priority shifted to efficiency and the latest technologies.
Drone purchases from Ukrainian manufacturers are also growing
By the end of 2024, the Ministry of Defense, together with the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, purchased more than 1.5 million drones. This was recently announced by Hlib Kanevskyi, Director of the Procurement Policy Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
According to him, 96% of this amount was paid to Ukrainian manufacturers and suppliers, and this had a positive impact on the development of the Ukrainian UAV industry.
According to the official, this year’s figures will be even higher, as the capacity of the domestic defense industry in 2025 is approximately 4.5 million FPV drones. According to the Director of the Ministry’s Procurement Policy Department, the Ministry of Defense plans to purchase them all.
