KYIV, July 13 — Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, has overseen the production of thousands of unmanned systems under the country’s ‘Army of Drones’ project, according to officials. The program, which began after Russia’s full-scale invasion, has become a central pillar of Ukraine’s defence strategy. Fedorov, who was born in 1991 in Vasylkiv, Kyiv region, is the youngest minister in Ukraine’s cabinet.
He has held the post since 2019, originally tasked with digitising government services. His ministry developed the ‘Diia’ digital government app, now used by millions of Ukrainians.
But the war shifted his focus sharply toward military technology.
Drone Production and Naval Capabilities
The record shows that Fedorov has led the development of two specific naval drone systems: the Magura V5 and the Sea Baby. These unmanned surface vessels have been used in strikes on what officials describe as Russia’s “shadow fleet” — vessels used to transport oil and other cargo outside formal sanctions regimes. By early 2025, naval drone production had reached 100 units per month, according to ministry statements.
The ‘Army of Drones’ project, launched under Fedorov’s direction, has produced thousands of unmanned aerial and naval systems. Officials have credited these platforms with enabling Ukraine to strike Russian ships and infrastructure at low cost, reducing the need for expensive Western-supplied missiles.
The strategic logic, according to analysts, is one of asymmetric warfare: a drone costing tens of thousands of dollars can disable a naval vessel worth hundreds of millions.
Sanctions and Political Context
Russia has sanctioned Fedorov since 2022, according to official records. The designation places him on a list of Ukrainian officials barred from entering Russian territory and subject to asset freezes under Russian law. The move came as Moscow sought to penalise those directing what it calls “terrorist attacks” on its military and civilian infrastructure.
Fedorov’s background before government was in the private sector. He founded a digital marketing agency and later served as an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before being appointed minister.
His combination of tech-sector experience and wartime crisis management has made him an unusual figure in a cabinet dominated by career politicians and former military officers.
Strategic Implications
The drone program represents a broader shift in Ukrainian military doctrine, according to defence analysts. Rather than matching Russian firepower with equivalent conventional systems, Kyiv has invested heavily in unmanned platforms that can strike deep behind enemy lines at a fraction of the cost of traditional weapons. The Magura V5 and Sea Baby drones are designed to operate in the Black Sea, where they have targeted Russian naval assets and port infrastructure.
Fedorov’s ministry has also worked to integrate commercial drone technology with military applications, drawing on Ukraine’s growing tech sector. The ‘Army of Drones’ project includes both domestically produced systems and modified commercial platforms, according to officials.
The scale of production — thousands of units across multiple types — suggests a mature industrial base that has grown significantly since the war began.
Looking Forward
With naval drone production at 100 units per month and the ‘Army of Drones’ project continuing to expand, Fedorov’s ministry shows no signs of slowing its output. The question now, according to military observers, is whether this production rate can be sustained and whether the systems can be adapted to counter evolving Russian defences. The record so far indicates that Ukraine’s drone program has become a permanent feature of its military posture — one that has already reshaped the balance of power in the Black Sea.
