Rapid military deployment of artificial intelligence is becoming a critical factor for Ukraine’s survival in the war. AI is already being used to hold positions, reduce casualties among soldiers, and counter Russia’s numerically superior army, says senior AI official Danylo Tsvok, Associated Press has reported.
Ukraine and Russia are simultaneously increasing the use of autonomous systems, from drones to ground and maritime platforms. A key challenge is operating under intense electronic warfare, which is changing the very logic of military command and control.
AI is already deciding who lives on battlefield
Tsvok, who heads the Defense Artificial Intelligence Center at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, emphasizes that modern warfare is rapidly entering a phase where decisions increasingly depend on algorithms.
“We need to understand that the future belongs to autonomous systems. AI makes it possible to automate parts of the kill chain," says Danylo Tsvok.
He adds that AI reduces the time between target detection and engagement, thereby altering the effectiveness of combat operations.
In the future, artificial intelligence could become the foundation of a networked battlefield, where different systems operate as a single coordinated structure.
Autonomous systems are blurring lines
According to Tsvok, within the next three to five years, combat operations may shift even further toward fully integrated digital systems.
He predicts a significant increase in autonomous interceptors, robotic ground platforms, and electronic warfare systems working in coordination with AI.
This creates a new battlefield model where data processing speed becomes a critical advantage.
Invisible war of algorithms is determining winners
The arms race is moving into the digital domain, where success depends not only on missiles and drones but also on the ability to quickly integrate data, sensors, and autonomous systems into a unified combat network.
In this logic of warfare, the advantage goes to those who first build a fully connected AI-based command-and-control system.
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