Ukraine's Tech Innovations Revolutionize Modern Warfare Tactics

WHO:

Fast Company - Serhii Kupriienko, CEO and cofounder of Swarmer, a Ukrainian defense tech company.

Fast Company - Alex Fink, American businessman and cofounder of Swarmer.

Fast Company - Mykhailo Fedorov, former minister of digital transformation and later defense chief of Ukraine.

Fast Company - Danylo Tsvok, director of A1, a new center for AI in the Ukrainian military.

Fast Company - Eveline Buchatskiy, managing partner at D3, a Kyiv-based venture fund.

WHAT:

Fast Company - Swarmer builds AI software to help drones coordinate with less human direction.

Fast Company - Drones accounted for less than 10% of battlefield casualties in 2022, rising to as much as 80% by 2025.

Fast Company - Ukraine's defense tech market reached roughly $6.8 billion last year, with drones accounting for most of it.

Fast Company - Swarmer went public in March 2026, with shares spiking nearly 1,000% over the first three trading sessions.

Fast Company - D3 invested $15 million in Swarmer's Series A in September 2025.

Fast Company - Ukraine's annual defense industry production capacity grew from about $1 billion in 2022 to $35 billion by 2025.

Fast Company - Brave1 Market offered more than 4,000 items by July 2026, with $111 million in drone orders placed in June alone.

WHERE:

Fast Company - Kyiv, Ukraine, where Swarmer is located and where many meetings took place.

Fast Company - The eastern front of Ukraine, where drone warfare is prevalent.

WHEN:

Fast Company - Swarmer was founded in early 2023.

Fast Company - D3 was launched in July 2023.

Fast Company - The Army of Drones initiative was launched in July 2022.

Fast Company - A1 was created in March 2026.

Fast Company - Swarmer went public in March 2026.

WHY:

Fast Company - Kupriienko wanted to build a system to protect his children living in Kyiv, referring to it as an “ethical Skynet.”

Fast Company - The Ukrainian military's push toward AI was accelerated due to Russian electronic warfare capabilities that jammed GPS.

HOW:

Fast Company - Swarmer's software integrates with unmanned systems to share battlefield information and coordinate actions.

Fast Company - The Brave1 platform connects developers with military experts and guides companies in bringing new systems into military use.

Fast Company - A1 aims to use AI for military decision-making, including a project called SPECTR for operational planning.

(UPDATED September 25, 2026 10:58 UTC)

Swarmer, a Ukrainian defense tech company co-founded by Serhii Kupriienko and Alex Fink, has developed AI software that enables drones to operate with less human oversight, a crucial advancement as drones have increasingly accounted for a significant portion of battlefield casualties. The company went public in March 2026, experiencing a remarkable surge in share prices, while Ukraine's defense tech market has seen substantial growth, reaching approximately $6.8 billion last year. Additionally, the establishment of A1, a center for AI in the military, highlights Ukraine's commitment to integrating advanced technology into its defense strategies, particularly in response to challenges posed by Russian electronic warfare.