2 Sources
[1]
Ukraine sees 'priceless' digital battlefield data trove as key to West's support
KYIV, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Ukraine is looking at how to share battlefield data with allies, the country's deputy prime minister said, calling the vast trove of stored information one of Kyiv's "cards" to strengthen its position as it negotiates support from friendly countries. "The data we have is priceless for any country," Mykhailo Fedorov, who heads Ukraine's digitalisation ministry, told Reuters in an interview, adding that Ukraine is currently "very careful" about sharing it. Vast datasets are crucial for training artificial intelligence (AI) models to recognise patterns and make predictions. That need is particularly pressing in the burgeoning global defence sector. While datasets for most civilian activities can be found commercially, the 21st century's biggest war between advanced armies has given Ukraine a set of combat data with no parallel, which could help Kyiv prove its value as an ally to Washington. Since Russia launched its 2022 invasion, Ukraine has collected reams of meticulously logged battlefield statistics. And with the war increasingly fought by drones, it now has millions of hours of combat footage filmed from the air. "I think this is one of the 'cards', as our colleagues and partners say, to build win-win relations," Fedorov said, an apparent nod to U.S. President Donald Trump, who told Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a disastrous Oval Office meeting in February that "you don't have the cards". "The demand for the data is incredibly high, but at the moment we are forming policy how to organise this process correctly," Fedorov said. Ukraine has also sought to position itself as a testing ground for international defence companies, inviting them to try out new weapons in Ukraine. Fedorov said that nearly 1,000 applications had been received so far, and 50 different products were "coming to Ukraine". Ukraine now uses AI to help pilot drones, including several of its systems used for long-range attacks deep inside Russia, Fedorov said. Computers can scan detailed aerial and satellite reconnaissance imagery for targets which would take a human "dozens of hours" to find, he said. Fedorov said work was ongoing on systems which would make drones fully autonomous, which would allow them to fly without a pilot and work in swarms. AI TECHNOLOGY He added that Ukraine was using AI technology from U.S. data analysis firm Palantir (PLTR.O), opens new tab for a wide variety of purposes, such as analysing Russian strikes on Ukraine for patterns or tracking Moscow's disinformation campaigns. Palantir was founded by U.S. billionaire Peter Thiel, a figure influential among members of the Trump administration. Not all Ukraine's uses of Palantir are military: the minister said it also helped to decide where to build bomb-proof underground schools, or which territories to prioritise in demining efforts. These days, between 80% and 90% of Russian targets struck on the battlefield are now destroyed with drones, Fedorov said. That is an increase from 2024, when nearly 70% of troops and 75% of vehicles hit by Ukraine were struck with drones. Fedorov, who is seen as an ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has at the age of 34 already served for five years as the minister in charge of Ukraine's digitalisation effort, which has led him to be heavily involved in Ukraine's search for innovative defence technologies to beat back its richer and better armed foe. As part of this, his ministry has been operating a video game-style points system for confirmed kills or the destruction of Russian vehicles and equipment. Those points can then be exchanged for drones, electronic signal jammers and other weapon systems on a sleek, Amazon-style marketplace, while units are ranked on monthly leaderboards. Fedorov said that since the system was introduced a year ago, about 500,000 drones had been handed out to units in exchange for points. "This stimulates units to kill more, to share data on the basis of which decisions are later made about what is effective and what is not." Ukrainian troops now regularly speak of a 'kill zone' on both sides of the front, where moving around in the open is rendered almost impossible by the constant threat of drones. Fedorov estimated that this zone now stretched about 10-15 km from the front line, and that it could reach as far as 20 km in the next year. Fedorov said that operating in such an environment was "hellish work". As a result, he said Ukraine is now using several thousand unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) on the battlefield to bring in ammunition and supplies to soldiers holding the frontline in dugouts. Reporting by Max Hunder Editing by Peter Graff Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
[2]
Ukraine's Sees 'Priceless' Digital Battlefield Data Trove as Key to West's Support
KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine is looking at how to share battlefield data with allies, the country's deputy prime minister said, calling the vast trove of stored information one of Kyiv's "cards" to strengthen its position as it negotiates support from friendly countries. "The data we have is priceless for any country," Mykhailo Fedorov, who heads Ukraine's digitalisation ministry, told Reuters in an interview, adding that Ukraine is currently "very careful" about sharing it. Vast datasets are crucial for training artificial intelligence (AI) models to recognise patterns and make predictions. That need is particularly pressing in the burgeoning global defence sector. While datasets for most civilian activities can be found commercially, the 21st century's biggest war between advanced armies has given Ukraine a set of combat data with no parallel, which could help Kyiv prove its value as an ally to Washington. Since Russia launched its 2022 invasion, Ukraine has collected reams of meticulously logged battlefield statistics. And with the war increasingly fought by drones, it now has millions of hours of combat footage filmed from the air. "I think this is one of the 'cards', as our colleagues and partners say, to build win-win relations," Fedorov said, an apparent nod to U.S. President Donald Trump, who told Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a disastrous Oval Office meeting in February that "you don't have the cards". "The demand for the data is incredibly high, but at the moment we are forming policy how to organise this process correctly," Fedorov said. Ukraine has also sought to position itself as a testing ground for international defence companies, inviting them to try out new weapons in Ukraine. Fedorov said that nearly 1,000 applications had been received so far, and 50 different products were "coming to Ukraine". Ukraine now uses AI to help pilot drones, including several of its systems used for long-range attacks deep inside Russia, Fedorov said. Computers can scan detailed aerial and satellite reconnaissance imagery for targets which would take a human "dozens of hours" to find, he said. Fedorov said work was ongoing on systems which would make drones fully autonomous, which would allow them to fly without a pilot and work in swarms. AI TECHNOLOGY He added that Ukraine was using AI technology from U.S. data analysis firm Palantir for a wide variety of purposes, such as analysing Russian strikes on Ukraine for patterns or tracking Moscow's disinformation campaigns. Palantir was founded by U.S. billionaire Peter Thiel, a figure influential among members of the Trump administration. Not all Ukraine's uses of Palantir are military: the minister said it also helped to decide where to build bomb-proof underground schools, or which territories to prioritise in demining efforts. These days, between 80% and 90% of Russian targets struck on the battlefield are now destroyed with drones, Fedorov said. That is an increase from 2024, when nearly 70% of troops and 75% of vehicles hit by Ukraine were struck with drones. Fedorov, who is seen as an ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has at the age of 34 already served for five years as the minister in charge of Ukraine's digitalisation effort, which has led him to be heavily involved in Ukraine's search for innovative defence technologies to beat back its richer and better armed foe. As part of this, his ministry has been operating a video game-style points system for confirmed kills or the destruction of Russian vehicles and equipment. Those points can then be exchanged for drones, electronic signal jammers and other weapon systems on a sleek, Amazon-style marketplace, while units are ranked on monthly leaderboards. Fedorov said that since the system was introduced a year ago, about 500,000 drones had been handed out to units in exchange for points. "This stimulates units to kill more, to share data on the basis of which decisions are later made about what is effective and what is not." Ukrainian troops now regularly speak of a 'kill zone' on both sides of the front, where moving around in the open is rendered almost impossible by the constant threat of drones. Fedorov estimated that this zone now stretched about 10-15 km from the front line, and that it could reach as far as 20 km in the next year. Fedorov said that operating in such an environment was "hellish work". As a result, he said Ukraine is now using several thousand unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) on the battlefield to bring in ammunition and supplies to soldiers holding the frontline in dugouts. (Reporting by Max HunderEditing by Peter Graff)
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Ukraine is considering sharing its vast trove of digital battlefield data with allies, viewing it as a key asset in negotiations for Western support. The country's innovative use of AI in warfare and its unique combat dataset position it as a valuable testing ground for defense technologies.
In a groundbreaking development, Ukraine is considering sharing its extensive collection of digital battlefield data with allies, viewing it as a crucial asset in negotiations for Western support. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister and head of the digitalisation ministry, described the data as "priceless for any country" 12.
Source: Reuters
Since Russia's 2022 invasion, Ukraine has meticulously logged battlefield statistics and amassed millions of hours of drone-captured combat footage. This unique dataset is particularly valuable for training artificial intelligence (AI) models in the rapidly expanding global defense sector. Unlike civilian datasets, which are often commercially available, Ukraine's combat data offers unparalleled insights into modern warfare between advanced armies 12.
Ukraine has embraced AI technology to enhance its military capabilities:
The effectiveness of these AI-driven strategies is evident in the increasing reliance on drones for combat operations. Fedorov reported that 80-90% of Russian targets on the battlefield are now destroyed by drones, up from 70-75% in 2024 12.
Ukraine's digitalisation ministry has implemented several innovative approaches to warfare:
Positioning itself as a real-world laboratory for international defense companies, Ukraine has invited firms to test new weapons on its soil. Fedorov revealed that nearly 1,000 applications have been received, with 50 different products set to be deployed in Ukraine 12.
Ukraine is actively developing fully autonomous drone systems capable of operating without pilots and in swarms. This advancement could significantly alter the nature of future conflicts and further cement Ukraine's position as a leader in AI-driven warfare 12.
By leveraging its unique dataset and expertise in AI-powered warfare, Ukraine aims to strengthen its position in negotiations with Western allies, particularly the United States. This strategy could prove crucial in securing continued support and resources for Ukraine's defense efforts 12.
As the conflict continues to evolve, Ukraine's innovative approach to digital warfare and its valuable combat data repository may play a pivotal role in shaping both the outcome of the current conflict and the future of global defense strategies.
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