Mykhailo Fedorov deepfake video — Oct 2026

Political analyst Yevhen Mahda has criticized former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov for utilizing AI-generated videos to promote an 'Army of Robots' initiative, labeling the content as a misleading marketing ploy. Mahda argues that these presentations serve as a substitute for tangible defense results, deepening public disappointment during a period of critical procurement failures.

What happened

Following the failure of the 'Closed Sky' initiative—which had promised to intercept 95% of drones and missiles but reportedly yielded no concrete results—Fedorov introduced the 'Army of Robots' project. This initiative was showcased through AI-generated videos depicting robotic combat. Mahda contends that these videos are designed to sell hope to a society seeking protection, yet they lack any underlying substance or operational reality.

According to Mahda, the reliance on these AI-generated presentations masks significant administrative failures. Reports indicate that Fedorov’s team missed opportunities to secure essential missiles for Patriot systems and faced critical delays in weapon procurement tenders. Furthermore, the defense budget was reportedly spent ahead of schedule, leading to a projected shortfall of $27–28 billion and potential risks to service member payments. Mahda emphasizes that while the public and military personnel interpret these AI videos as signs of imminent technological support on the front lines, the reality is a lack of actual defense infrastructure. He concludes that presenting such 'Hollywood-style' AI content as a substitute for fulfilled defense promises is an immoral marketing tactic that ultimately demoralizes the public and the military.