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Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's former defense minister, released a promotional video envisioning humanoid robots in combat as part of what he calls a robotic 'Manhattan Project.' The flashy rollout has drawn eyebrows in Kyiv, where some question whether scarce R&D capital is better spent on mature drone and UGV platforms already proving themselves in the field.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's former defense minister, told Defense News he aims to field humanoid-like robots in combat within six months and conduct an infantry-free assault within a year. A promotional video for the 'Army of Robots' initiative drew skepticism from Breaking Defense, with sources questioning the timeline and technical feasibility. Fedorov frames the project as Ukraine's answer to mounting personnel losses and the need to scale autonomous ground systems rapidly.
Why it matters: The splashiest robotics claim from a Ukrainian official yet — but six months to humanoid warfighters is Hollywood math, and the skepticism inside Kyiv reflects fatigue with vaporware announcements that pull oxygen from proven FPV and UGV efforts.
Mykhailo FedorovUkraine Defense News →Breaking Defense →C4ISRNET →
Mykhailo Fedorov, sacked as Ukraine's defense minister last month, is forming a new defense company with Palantir Technologies CEO Alex Karp as founding investor. Terms were not disclosed. Fedorov had championed software and AI procurement during his tenure; the new venture is expected to focus on autonomy and data integration for ground forces.
Why it matters: Karp is betting Fedorov can export Ukraine's battlefield software lessons into a commercial product before the rest of the defense-tech pack catches up — and Fedorov gets a Silicon Valley backer with Pentagon access and a track record of turning government relationships into billion-dollar contracts.
Mykhailo FedorovAlex KarpPalantir TechnologiesUkraine Defense News →
Ukraine's former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov, dismissed last month after weeks of public protests, told Defense News that Ukraine needs systemic changes to avoid losing the war and currently lacks any overall strategic vision for victory. Fedorov, a young reformer, was removed amid tensions over procurement reform and military modernization.
Why it matters: When your most pro-tech minister says publicly that you have no theory of victory, that's not a personnel squabble — it's a strategic alarm.