Dorozvidka #29: Swarmer, fibre-optic drones on USVs, Cyber Forces of Ukraine, Yaroslav Sherstiuk, Neptune x Flamingo

A major interview has been published with the CEO of Swarmer, a startup that recently raised a record-breaking $15 million investment for Ukraine’s defence tech sector. President Zelensky shared updates on Ukrainian missiles and deep strikes, while military app developer Yaroslav Sherstiuk appeared on the Hack Your Mom podcast.

Also in Dorozvidka #29 — new tactics for using naval drones and a look at the draft law establishing Ukraine’s Cyber Forces.

Swarmer CEO — on $15M funding and drone autonomy

“We’re building an ethical Skynet,” says former Amazon engineer Serhii Kuprienko, describing his project. His company Swarmer is developing a system that will allow a single operator to control dozens of drones simultaneously. The team recently secured $15M — one of the largest public defence-tech rounds since the full-scale invasion began.

In an interview with DOU, Serhii explained why he left Amazon for defence tech, how the funds will be used, how they convinced investors, where the next office will open, and when humans will disappear from the UAV control loop.

Fibre-optic drones launched from USVs

A Forbes article highlights a new stage in the evolution of Ukrainian naval drones — they are now launching FPV drones controlled via fibre-optic cables, which cannot be jammed by electronic warfare. This combination of maritime platforms and drones opens new tactical opportunities for the Armed Forces of Ukraine: such systems can operate over long distances, maintaining precision and control even under the most challenging conditions.

Zelensky on Ukrainian missiles and deep strikes

President Zelensky said that Ukraine is already successfully using Neptune and Flamingo missiles in tandem. He also highlighted the achievements of several Ukrainian deep-strike systems, including Palianytsia, Ruta, and Liutyi. More on Ukrinform.

Yaroslav Sherstiuk on the Hack Your Mom podcast

The developer behind tactical apps MyGun, TacticMap, MilChat, and Ukrop spoke about his journey and the challenges of Ukraine’s miltech environment. The two-hour video covers:

• Whether Yaroslav was really responsible for 30% of Ukrainian artillery losses;
• Why military command distanced itself from him;
• How his apps were created and why Ukraine still lacks a legal framework for software procurement;
• Why so much of defence development still relies on volunteers, personal funds, and enthusiasm.

Cyber Forces of Ukraine — a new branch of the military

On 9 October, the Verkhovna Rada adopted at first reading the draft law “On the Cyber Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” Supported by 255 MPs, this marks the first step toward creating a new branch of service focused on operations in cyberspace. More details are available in DW’s report.