Minister Fedorov announces start of audit of battlefield losses and introduction of minimum drone supply for brigades
Minister of Defense of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov has announced the start of an analysis of combat losses aimed at rectifying problems in management decisions, as well as the introduction of a basic minimum for drone supplies to brigades.
"Loss audit. We are starting an analysis of every loss on the battlefield. The audit will help identify key problems and make management decisions for their systemic resolution. Human capital is the highest value. We will fight for the life of every warrior," Fedorov wrote on Telegram on Monday, following meetings last week with corps and group commanders, brigade commanders, and heads of military administrations.
According to him, by order of the President, work is already underway on specific solutions, a number of which concern the provision of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles.
"We are launching a basic minimum of drone supplies for brigades. This is a guaranteed monthly provision of FPVs, scouts, bombers, and other UAVs—in addition to state deliveries, ‘Ye-Balls’ [digital procurement points], and other purchases. This will allow brigades to plan their defense and be confident in their resources. We are also working on the centralized provision of Starlinks and pickups for the army," the Minister wrote.
Fedorov also announced a review of the annual target indicators for drone supplies.
"A procurement plan has been formed. There will be more interceptors, FPVs and fiber-optic drones, scout wings, strike drones for operational depth, and other necessary means. The first quarter has already been contracted: for the first time, the need was formed based on data to eliminate subjective influence and corruption risks. Soon, the results of the procurements will be felt at the front," he reported.
Additionally, the Minister reported on the scaling of ground robotic complexes (GRCs), announcing that during the current year there will be "many times more" of them, which will allow for the transfer of logistics to them and minimize personnel losses.
The head of the defense department spoke about work on products that could be analogs to Mavics but using artificial intelligence. "We are already testing solutions that will soon be scaled at the front," he said.
Fedorov announced a change in the approach to determining needs, transitioning from manual formation of requests to an automated model. "Based on high-quality data from the front, we will form the real need without a ‘zoo’ of ineffective solutions. Our goal is for the military to receive the best solutions rather than having to modify them with their own hands in the trenches," he explained.
The Minister reported that last week he spent several days working at the front—in the Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv directions. He met with corps and group commanders, brigade commanders, and heads of military administrations, held meetings with Operational Command South, Commander of the Joint Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi, and the Commander of the AFU Unmanned Systems Forces Robert Brovdi (call sign "Magyar"), and worked directly with mechanized and air assault brigades and air defense units.
"The goal is to synchronize decisions to strengthen the defense and systemically prepare for spring… I recorded dozens of proposals from the military and problem points. We are working on their systemic solutions," Fedorov said.
