🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
Ukraine has said that it plans to develop its own drone program instead of buying them from abroad.
The country has just held its first international, military tech drone hackathon in Ukraine, during which 30 teams worked over three days to build homemade drones.
The three-day event, held in Kyiv, ended on August 28.
"It gathered 150 participants and top Ukrainian and international technology experts. The main goal of the event is to find new digital solutions that will help raise the development of drone production and technical support in Ukraine to a high level."
According to the ministry, Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine told participants: "The development of military tech is our priority for the coming years. The production of our own drones is one of the directions that we plan to actively develop.
"At our Drone Hackathon, we were able to gather great specialists working on new digital solutions for our military. The best ideas that appeared at this hackathon will be implemented and will be able to raise the level of Ukrainian military aerial intelligence."
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement, also on Tuesday, August 30: "The best ideas that the teams proposed were related to the operation of drones, their interaction, recognition and other functions important for detecting and destroying the enemy. Soon they will be implemented and will be able to raise the level of Ukrainian military aerial intelligence and make it one of the best in the world.
"The Ministry of Statistics implemented the Drone Hackathon together with the Ukrainian Startup Fund, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Concern "Ukroboronprom," and the IDI Innovation Defense Initiative. Together we will win!"
Zenger News contacted the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation for further comment, as well as the Russian Ministry of Defense, but had not received a reply at the time of writing.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation." Thursday marks the 189th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and August 31, Russia had lost about 47,900 personnel, 1,974 tanks, 4,312 armored combat vehicles, 1,091 artillery units, 285 multiple launch rocket systems, 152 air defense systems, 234 warplanes, 204 helicopters, 849 drones, 196 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,236 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 103 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
This story was provided to Newsweek by Zenger News.
