KYIV, July 16 — The shift in modern warfare is no longer theoretical. It is being written in the skies over Ukraine by thousands of small, relatively cheap unmanned aerial vehicles, and the man who helped orchestrate that change is Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov launched the “Army of Drones” project in July 2022, just months into Russia’s full-scale invasion.
It is a government-led crowdfunding initiative. By early 2025, the project had pulled in over $200 million from global donors.
That money bought a fleet of thousands of drones, including reconnaissance models and FPV, or first-person view, attack drones. The project also trained more than 10,000 drone operators. Drones have become a critical component of Ukraine’s defense.
They are used for surveillance, for artillery spotting, and for precision strikes against Russian forces. Fedorov’s leadership in this area was widely credited with enhancing Ukraine’s asymmetric warfare capabilities.
From Crowdfunding to Combat
The “Army of Drones” model bypasses traditional military procurement timelines. The project raised cash from donors around the world and put drones into the hands of Ukrainian units. The $200 million figure, raised by early 2025, represents a significant civilian investment in a military capability.
Training is the other half of the equation. The project’s training of over 10,000 operators means Ukraine has built a human infrastructure to match its hardware pipeline.
What’s Changing on the Battlefield
Drone warfare changes the cost calculus. A single FPV drone, costing a few hundred dollars, can destroy a tank worth millions. Reconnaissance drones give commanders real-time eyes on the battlefield, allowing for faster, more accurate artillery strikes.
FPV attack drones add a precision-strike capability. The combination has made Ukrainian forces more lethal and more survivable.
Fedorov’s role in this transformation cannot be overstated. As Ukraine’s digital transformation minister, he brought a tech-savvy, startup mentality to a war effort. The “Army of Drones” project is a direct product of that approach.
Looking Forward
Drones are already a critical part of Ukraine’s defense. The model of government-led crowdfunding for military technology is new, and its success in Ukraine could inspire copycats elsewhere. Small, cheap UAVs are reshaping how wars are fought. The “Army of Drones” project is a case study in how a nation under attack can leverage technology and global goodwill to level the playing field.
