Ukraine is going through a unique historical period. The full-scale Russian aggression has become not only a test of national resilience, but also a powerful catalyst for the formation of a new Ukrainian elite. If after gaining independence the state was built mainly by politicians, officials and big businessmen, today its future is determined by military commanders, specialists of special services, engineers, designers, digital transformation managers and people who are able to make quick decisions in war conditions. It is they who are shaping a new model of Ukraine – high-tech, innovative, strong and integrated into the global system of economy, defense, security.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy — political leader of a warring state
Volodymyr Zelensky went down in history as the President who led Ukraine during the largest war in Europe since World War II. His main achievement was not only the preservation of Ukrainian statehood, but also the formation of an unprecedented international coalition of support for Ukraine. It was during his presidency that Ukraine focused on the development of its own defense-industrial complex, the production of long-range weapons, unmanned systems, digital state services, and integration with NATO and the European Union. Zelensky became a political symbol of indomitability and the ability to consolidate international support for modern Ukraine.
Mykhailo Drapatyy — the new architect of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Mykhailo Drapatiy represents a generation of ultra-resilient combat commanders, formed directly on the battlefield. His appointment symbolizes the transition of the Ukrainian army to a new stage of development, where the main role is played by the speed of command, network-centric operations, the integration of unmanned systems, artificial intelligence and modern intelligence. Drapatiy embodies a new military school that combines classical military art with digital technologies.
Oleksandr Syrsky — the experience that became the foundation of the modern army
Oleksandr Syrsky left behind one of the most extensive transformations of the Ukrainian army. His experience in leading defensive and offensive operations became the basis for the development of the modern command system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He proved that the Ukrainian army is capable of conducting a successful highly maneuverable war against a much larger enemy, effectively using intelligence, technology and motivation of personnel. Under him, the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) were founded and he appointed Robert Brody (call sign “Magyar”) as their leader.
Yevhenii Khmara — defense and security forces integrator
Yevhenii Khmara is a representative of a new generation of security sector leaders. Having gone from the Special Operations Center “Alpha” of the SBU to the Minister of Defense, he combined practical combat experience with modern principles of strategic management. His activities are aimed at integrating the capabilities of the Armed Forces, special services, the defense industry and international partners into a single system for ensuring national security.
Kirill Budanov — State Security Strategist
Kyrylo Budanov belongs to a generation of leaders who understand the military, intelligence and political components of modern warfare equally well. His experience in military intelligence leadership has served as a foundation for his work in the field of strategic public administration. Budanov is a supporter of proactive solutions, innovative technologies and close cooperation between all elements of the security sector.
Robert “Magyar” Brody is a symbol of the drone revolution
Robert Brovdy has become one of the symbols of the technological revolution on the battlefield. Unmanned systems are changing the nature of war today, and the Ukrainian experience of their mass application is already being studied by the armies of many countries around the world. Under his leadership, a new type of force is being developed that integrates aerial reconnaissance, strike UAVs, robotic complexes, automated control systems, and elements of artificial intelligence.
Andriy Biletskyi — a new generation commander
Andriy Biletsky demonstrates a modern approach to training troops, managing units, and forming a professional command structure. The corps he led became an example of combining high discipline, modern tactics, technological equipment, and effective interaction between different branches of the military. His activities reflect the transition of the Ukrainian army to a corps structure that meets the standards of the world’s leading armies.
Denis Shtilerman — designer of Ukrainian technological superiority
Denis Shtilerman represents a new generation of Ukrainian engineers who work not in Soviet-style state design bureaus, but in high-tech private companies. FirePoint is an example of how Ukrainian engineers quickly create modern weapons, adapting them to the real needs of the front. It is such designers who form the new Ukrainian military-industrial complex, where the cycle from idea to mass production has been reduced to a few months.
Vasyl Malyuk — a new philosophy of special services
Vasyl Malyuk became one of those leaders who radically changed the approaches to the activities of Ukrainian special services. During the years of his leadership, the SBU significantly strengthened counterintelligence, the fight against agent networks, cybersecurity, and special operations. The experience of reforming the SBU has shown that a modern security service must act quickly, technologically, and as integrated as possible with other law enforcement agencies.
Valeriy Zaluzhnyy – the man who changed the military doctrine of Ukraine
Valeriy Zaluzhny remains one of the symbols of the modern history of the Ukrainian army. It was under his leadership that the Armed Forces of Ukraine demonstrated to the world the ability to confront a significantly superior enemy. He actively implemented the principles of mission command, flexible military management, and the widespread use of modern information technologies. His military philosophy became the basis of many modern reforms in the defense sector.
Mykhailo Fedorov — architect of the digital state
Mykhailo Fedorov became a symbol of Ukraine’s digital transformation. It was he who laid the foundation for the creation of a digital state, electronic services, the “Diya” ecosystem. His approach is based on the principles of rapid innovation, openness to technological startups, and close cooperation between the state and the private sector. Thanks to such managers, Ukraine is increasingly seen as one of the most innovative countries in Europe. However, Fedorov, as the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, could not find a common language with the military. This is probably why Fedorov, as an advertising specialist, organized “card rallies” in Ukraine in his support and against the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Syrsky – it is obvious that in war conditions there will always be the necessary number of “dodgers” and their girlfriends of various types for rallies against the command of the armed forces and the CCK.
The new Ukrainian elite is an elite of responsibility, knowledge, and technology
The modern Ukrainian elite is fundamentally different from the political and business elites of previous decades. Its representatives have gained authority not due to origin, financial resources or administrative influence, but due to professionalism, personal responsibility and the ability to act in conditions of extreme complexity. They are forming a new culture of public administration based on competence, technologicality, rapid decision-making and interaction of science, the defense industry and the security sector.
It is this new generation of military commanders, state administrators, engineers and technological leaders that should become the basis for victory in the war that the leadership of the Moscow state has launched against Ukraine, and this elite should prepare for the post-war modernization of Ukraine. Ukraine’s managerial cadres are laying the foundation for Ukraine of the 21st century – a state capable of being one of the world leaders in the field of defense technologies, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, robotics and innovation.
