Ukraine's Ministry of Defense announced sweeping digitalization results for 2025, with mobile apps now handling everything from medical referrals to unit transfers for millions of soldiers and reservists, the ministry reported on 8 January.
The results mark a fundamental shift in how Ukraine wages war. As Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal prepares to hand over his post to Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov—whom President Zelenskyy nominated on 2 January specifically for his digitalization expertise—the numbers suggest Ukraine's military has crossed a technological threshold that most NATO armies have yet to reach.
"Papers, queues, and manual accounting are gradually becoming a thing of the past," Shmyhal said. "They're being replaced by digital solutions that save time, reduce the burden on people, and enable precise, fast, and transparent decisions based on unified data."
What the numbers show
The Reserve+ app, which allows draft-age men to update military registration data remotely, now has 6 million users. The platform processes electronic medical commission referrals, online fine payments, and automatic draft deferments—functions that previously required in-person visits to Territorial Recruitment Centers, notorious for long queues and bureaucratic delays.
Army+, the app for active military personnel, reached 1 million users. The ministry reported 1.3 million electronic reports submitted through the platform, along with tens of thousands of unit transfers. The transfer system, launched in November 2024, allows soldiers to request reassignment within three days—a process that previously took months of paperwork.
The personnel tracking system "Impulse" is now operational in over 200 military units, replacing paper journals with real-time data. The ministry's SAP-based logistics system, modeled on platforms used by 28 NATO countries, cut supply times from weeks to days across more than 1,000 units.
Drones and medical records
The DOT-Chain Defence procurement platform now offers approximately 300 drone and electronic warfare models from over 100 manufacturers. Soldiers select equipment directly; the Defence's Procurement Agency handles contracts, payment, and quality control—a system designed to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks in getting technology to the front.
Medical digitalization shows similar progress. Some 83% of military units now operate on the Medical Information System, while 186 units across ground forces, marines, air assault, special operations, and support branches use electronic Primary Medical Cards for faster casualty treatment.
International backing and cybersecurity
An IT Coalition comprising 17 partner countries has channeled nearly €800 million toward communications, cybersecurity, and digital services for Ukraine's military. The coalition—led by Estonia and Luxembourg—delivered equipment worth €2 million from Luxembourg and Iceland in April alone.
The ministry is building what it calls an "IT vertical" within the military, planning to deploy up to 5,000 digital specialists with a unified transformation roadmap. All digital systems operate under constant monitoring from the ministry's Cyber Defense Center.
"Digitalization is about preserving resources, military effectiveness, and advantage over the enemy," Shmyhal said.
