Grants via Brave1, 5G pilot launch and new services in Diia: Mykhailo Fedorov presents Ministry of Digital Transformation plans for 2025-2026

Four Brave1 grant competitions with a total fund exceeding UAH 100 million, a 5G pilot, and Starlink Direct to Cell for SMS messaging – these are the Ministry of Digital Transformation’s plans for autumn 2025, presented by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.

Digital Education and New Services for Citizens

Online state services are becoming as reliable and familiar as offline ones, but faster and more convenient.

The Diia platform already offers the School Starter Package service, providing parents and legal guardians of first-graders with UAH 5,000 per child for school preparation.

Work continues on other services: Criminal Record with Apostille (beta testing), Basic Social Assistance (beta testing), Path of the Wounded, new categories for the International Register of Damage, and convenient services for military personnel and veterans.

Plans include developing Mriia, a unified education management ecosystem, set to cover 30% to 100% of schools.

The range of digital services for citizens is expanding, covering social protection, healthcare, taxes, support for military personnel and veterans, businesses, and drivers. Key innovations include CNAP 2.0, which will transition most administrative services to a modern digital format.

Additionally, two sectoral reforms with integrated Diia products are planned:

• e-Notary: A new system to streamline all key notarial processes, making them faster, more convenient, and bureaucracy-free.
• e-Excise: An electronic system for managing alcohol and tobacco circulation, protecting Ukrainians from counterfeits, increasing budget revenues, and simplifying business operations.

A new digital service, e-Court, is also planned, which will have a direct anti-corruption impact.

Currently, over 22.8 million Ukrainians use Diia, and the Ministry’s team is working to make digital services accessible to everyone.

Brave1: New Grant Competitions and Updated Programme

The defence tech cluster Brave1 is fundamentally revising its approach to supporting developers. This week, four major grant competitions with prize funds totalling over UAH 100 million will be announced:

• Artificial Intelligence: Technologies for recognition, detection, and GPS-free navigation.
• Explosives: Scaling up production.
• Two missile programme competitions: Developing strike capabilities of varying ranges.

The grant programme will be updated with new grant sizes – UAH 500,000, UAH 2 million, UAH 4 million, and UAH 8 million – depending on technology readiness. Instead of over 140 general priorities, there will now be 70 highly detailed ones in categories such as UAVs, uncrewed boats, electronic warfare, combat electronics, ammunition, AI, and missiles.

Brave1 will also launch a dedicated website where manufacturers can view a clear list of technologies most needed by the state and military.

Over two years, Brave1 has issued over 560 grants worth UAH 2.2 billion. The cluster includes more than 1,500 companies with 3,600 developments, including over 500 UAV manufacturers.

Gamification of Strikes via a Points System

Mykhailo Fedorov highlighted the success of the Army of Drones Bonuses programme – a gamification of combat operations that boosts unit motivation. The system is simple: units earn points for confirmed strikes (from 1 point for a damaged dugout to 100 points for destroying air defence systems), which can be exchanged for needed drones through Brave1 Market, the world’s first defence tech marketplace.

The programme’s philosophy is: destroy more, receive more; independently choose the UAV type that is effective and necessary for your unit.

Revolution in Connectivity and EU Integration

The Ministry is preparing major changes in telecommunications and digital infrastructure. In autumn, a 5G pilot project will launch in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Odesa, testing the technology before a nationwide rollout.

Simultaneously, the introduction of Starlink Direct to Cell will begin, turning smartphones into satellite terminals for SMS messaging anywhere, even without terrestrial coverage. The service will be free until the end of martial law, with plans to expand to voice calls and mobile internet. Ukraine is among the first countries to test this technology in wartime conditions.

Infrastructure and international integration are also advancing. Ukraine is joining the European digital space, with plans for integration into the Digital Single Market, launching the EUDI Wallet, and securing EU recognition of Ukraine’s qualified electronic signature. Other initiatives include creating a single roaming zone with the EU, developing Direct to Cell, providing internet on railways, and enhancing telecommunications network resilience.

Presentation of Government Plans

The public presentation of the Government’s plans for August–December 2025 was held in Kyiv through panel discussions, attended by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, all ministers, and Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk. The event was broadcast to representatives of 78 Ukrainian and international media outlets.

The Government’s plan is based on the understanding that, in wartime, a capable state rests on four pillars – without any one, the system fails.

Ukraine’s security depends on the courage of its defenders and modern weaponry. The economy relies on Ukrainian businesses and partner support, providing resources for the fight and development. This is also about the dignity of people who work daily for the country and deserve support and fair treatment. Reconstruction is a chance to build the country we aspire to live in.

These four pillars define the state’s needs, which translate into 12 strategic Government priorities: security and defence, European integration, anti-corruption, macro-finance and reforms, business, welfare and recovery, veterans’ policy, healthcare, education and science, reconstruction, culture, and winter stability.