Solutions to win: Ukraine launches grant competition to develop humanoid robots for armed forces
AI illustration on the topic of a humanoid robot Source: Militarnyi
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has announced a grant competition to create humanoid robots for the Defense Forces. The project aims to support Ukrainian developers and accelerate the development of technologies that will help soldiers carry out combat missions and reduce personnel risks.
Defense Minister of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov announced this, Rubryka writes, citing hromadske.
The minister stressed the need to maximize the use of robotics to help soldiers on the front line.
"We need to think about how to use robotic technologies as much as possible on the front line, how to fight for the life of every soldier on the battlefield. How to make technologies fight technologies faster. Because today, our soldiers are doing simply incredible work amid such a density of drones. Our task is to find solutions that will help us hold the front line as much as possible through technology," Fedorov said.
Photo credit: Iryna Sitnikova / hromadske
Brave1 CEO Andrii Hrytseniuk said the grant aims to allow Ukraine to keep pace and develop its own robots. The new engineering solutions are expected to help Ukrainian troops hold positions more effectively and conduct missions under combat conditions.
"We see how rapidly the field of humanoid robots is developing around the world — in China and in the United States. We see that such robots have value in strengthening our military's capabilities. That is why we are moving in this direction. Of course, at first these will be simpler robots, and then they will become increasingly complex. But for us, unlike the civilian humanoid robot industry, the main goal is to create exactly those products that will help our soldiers," he said.
Background
It is worth noting that the development of humanoid robotics is gaining momentum worldwide. In particular, the US startup Foundation Future Industries is developing dual-use humanoid robots that may be used both in industry and to support military operations.
Robot Phantom MK-1 and Mike LeBlanc during a weapons test with the robot. Photo source: Foundation company
In February 2026, the company sent two Phantom 1 humanoid robots to Ukraine for pilot testing with support from the US government and in cooperation with Ukrainian officials. The robots successfully carried out logistics tasks involving the supply and transport of cargo in dangerous zones, and the company is now preparing a new version for testing in Ukraine with improved autonomy and twice the payload capacity.
At the same time, modern humanoid robots still have several limitations: they remain expensive, require regular recharging, can lose balance and break down, and their use alongside soldiers creates additional risks.
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