Code, Courage, and Crowdfunding: Inside Ukraine's Unconventional Blueprint for Victory

In addition to the ongoing support of its Western partners, Ukraine continues its daily resistance to Russian forces through the mobilisation of civil society, the public sector and volunteer initiatives. Despite the enormous challenges posed by the enemy's numerical superiority and turbulent political processes in the West, Ukraine is not only defending its sovereignty but also changing the very paradigms of modern warfare. Ukraine's resilience is not solely due to Western taxpayers and numerous diplomatic agreements. Ukraine's multifaceted strategy for victory in the war combines cutting-edge technological innovation, asymmetric warfare, and unwavering national resilience, backed by an unprecedented level of support from the population.

A New Generation of Warfare: Technology as the Great Equaliser

From the outset of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has pursued a strategy of technological leapfrogging, transforming the battlefield into a laboratory for 21st-century warfare. The ubiquitous presence of drones has rendered traditional military tactics, such as concentrating forces for a surprise attack, almost obsolete. The skies over Ukraine are now a combat zone not only for fighter jets, but also for swarms of inexpensive, highly effective first-person view (FPV) drones that can destroy armoured vehicles worth millions of dollars.

This ‘drone revolution’ is not limited to the air. Ukraine has pioneered the use of maritime drones to counter Russia's powerful Black Sea fleet, exceeding the expectations of naval strategists around the world. These uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), filled with explosives, have successfully struck and damaged numerous Russian military ships, effectively creating a ‘functional defeat’ of the Russian fleet in the maritime sphere. This innovative approach not only neutralised a significant Russian threat but also secured essential sea lanes for the export of Ukrainian grain, which is a critical component of the country's economy.

It’s vital to emphasise that innovation is happening not only in well-known defence companies, but also in small workshops and volunteer centres. This decentralised, bottom-up approach enables Ukraine to adapt to battlefield needs rapidly, deploying new technologies at a significantly faster pace than its larger, more bureaucratic adversary. A prime example of this grassroots mobilisation is the "Victory Drones" project. It provides crucial, free-of-charge training for military personnel on how to operate and apply FPV drones, tactical reconnaissance drones, and strike drones in combat scenarios. By empowering thousands of soldiers with these critical skills, initiatives like Victory Drones transform a technological niche into a widespread, democratized capability, creating a formidable force multiplier on the front lines. 

Recognising the need for long-term sustainability, this initial phase of decentralised innovation is now evolving into a more formalised and industrialised domestic defence sector. The Ukrainian government is actively encouraging joint ventures with major Western defence contractors to produce and repair advanced weaponry on Ukrainian soil. This strategic shift aims to reduce reliance on the fluctuating timelines of foreign aid and create a robust military-industrial base capable of sustaining the war effort.

Strategic Neutralisation: A New Theory of Victory

Another key concept that helps Ukraine win is what the Carnegie Foundation has called ‘strategic neutralisation.’ This strategy goes beyond the traditional goal of quickly recapturing all occupied territories in a counteroffensive. Instead, it aims to render Russian aggression futile by systematically weakening Russia's ability to wage war. It is a war of attrition, but not a simple exchange of human resources and material means. It is a technologically intensive war of attrition in which Ukraine uses its qualitative advantages in innovation, adaptability and precision to inflict disproportionate losses on the Russian army.

As former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi warned, this war could last for decades. In accordance with the principles of ‘strategic neutralisation,’ it is necessary to destroy Russia's military and economic potential by all means. Accordingly, focusing on the long-term systemic weakening of the enemy includes strikes on Russian logistics, command and control centres, as well as valuable military targets located far behind the front line, and Russia's economic arteries, such as oil refineries and export infrastructure.

Therefore, the war has fostered a strong sense of national identity and purpose, with citizens from all walks of life joining the military effort. A truly remarkable aspect of this mobilisation of society is the phenomenon of fundraising among the civilian population. From the first days of the invasion, Ukrainians have been donating their own money to support the army. This is not a centralised government programme, but a mass grassroots movement driven by a deep sense of patriotism and a desire to join in the defence of their homeland. 

Large-scale fundraising campaigns, often led by prominent public figures such as comedian and volunteer Serhiy Prytula, have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for everything from drones and armoured vehicles to thermal imaging cameras and medical supplies. Serhiy Prytula's foundation and the Come Back Alive foundation have become household names in Ukraine, symbols of the people's unwavering support for their defenders. This model of crowdfunding has allowed the Ukrainian army to quickly acquire the necessary equipment, bypassing the often slow and bureaucratic processes of public procurement. 

One of the most famous examples of this was the "People's Bayraktar" project, initiated by the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation in cooperation with blogger Ihor Lachenkov between June 22-24, 2022. The campaign raised 600 million UAH (roughly $15 million EUR) to purchase Bayraktar drones. In an unexpected turn, the manufacturer, Baykar, was so moved by the effort that it decided to donate three Bayraktar TB-2 UAVs to Ukraine at no cost. This allowed the foundation to use the saved funds for an even more strategic purchase: a satellite.

On August 18, 2022, the foundation announced it had signed a deal with the company ICEYE. The purchase gave Ukraine's Chief Intelligence Directorate access to a satellite with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capabilities and to the data from ICEYE's entire satellite constellation. This provided the Ukrainian Armed Forces with high-frequency radar imagery of critical locations. The satellite paid for itself in just two days by helping to unmask and destroy over 60 units of Russian equipment, including tanks and armoured vehicles. The cost of the equipment Russia lost exceeded the funds spent on the satellite contract, making it a highly effective national investment driven entirely by the people. 

After 2022, the Ukrainian will to raise money for the army hasn’t faded away. According to Opendatabot, over 24 billion UAH (~500 million EUR) was raised by Ukraine’s three largest charitable foundations in 2024, which is 28% more than in 2023. Since many smaller fundraising campaigns are going on all the time, it’s easy to assume that the total amount of money is much greater. 

Navigating the Shifting Sands of Western Support

Although Ukraine's ingenuity and resilience are key factors in its success, Western support still plays a crucial role. The provision of modern weapons, financial assistance and intelligence has been instrumental in enabling Ukraine to defend itself and inflict significant losses on the Russian army. However, this support has not always been consistent or timely, often hampered by political differences and fears of escalating conflict within the Western alliance.

A winning strategy for Ukraine requires a long-term, unwavering commitment from the West. Central to this long-term security architecture is Ukraine's potential membership in NATO. A clear path to membership in the alliance is the ultimate security guarantee against future Russian aggression. This path traditionally involves a Membership Action Plan, a multi-stage process of political, economic, and military reforms to meet NATO standards. However, there is ongoing debate within the alliance about whether Ukraine should be allowed to bypass the MAP, given the proven interoperability of its army and combat experience against a strong adversary. Accelerated accession would send a clear signal to Moscow and firmly anchor Ukraine in the Euro-Atlantic security system.

While some allies have suggested Article 5-style mutual defence pledges, these lack credibility, as NATO has consistently refused to intervene directly in the current war. A more pragmatic and believable approach is a "snapback" solution, which commits Western partners to an intensified version of their current support should Russia violate a peace deal. This model is built on three pillars:

• Rapid Sanctions: In the event of renewed aggression, allies would automatically reimpose severe economic restrictions. This includes kicking Russian banks out of the SWIFT messaging system, enacting full export controls, and potentially imposing secondary sanctions on entities in third countries that enable Russia's war economy.

• Surge in Military Aid: Partners would quickly increase the flow of offensive weaponry to Ukraine. This would involve sending longer-range missiles like ATACMS and Storm Shadows, accelerating deliveries of combat aircraft and armour, and authorising Kyiv to use donated systems against military targets inside Russia that are directly linked to the invasion.

• Immediate Financial Support: A standing Ukraine stabilisation fund, set up by G-7 states, would provide Kyiv with substantial financial assistance, enabling it to finance military production and continue fighting as long as necessary.

To be effective, these guarantees must be applied quickly and automatically, avoiding the political delays that have hampered past aid efforts. This would require codifying the commitments into law in partner nations, establishing clear triggers for the snapback, and pre-positioning munitions in neighbouring states to ensure rapid delivery. This framework provides a credible deterrent by making the consequences of a future attack both automatic and prohibitively costly for Russia.

Beyond these immediate guarantees, the economic dimension of victory is paramount. The European Union's rebuilding efforts are poised to play a central role, with initiatives like the multi-year Ukraine Facility designed to finance reconstruction. This is not merely about restoring what was destroyed; it is a vision to "build back better," aligning Ukraine's economy with EU standards and furthering its accession bid.

Conclusion: A Blueprint for 21st-Century Defence

Perhaps Ukrainians take the phrase ‘Sky is not the limit’ too literally, but this is precisely what helps Ukraine hold the front line and implement innovations on the battlefield (and very successfully at that). It is pretty likely that in an ideal world, the army would have to meet its own needs, but this is not always realistic when you are attacked by two of the most powerful armies in the world. By expanding its defence industry, striving for irreversible integration into NATO and the EU, and securing long-term commitments to its reconstruction, Ukraine is laying the foundation not only for victory in the war, but also for lasting peace. 

A clear-eyed approach to international relations matches this internal fortitude. While Western support remains vital, Ukraine is actively shaping its own long-term security by advocating for credible and immediate guarantees, such as the proposed "snapback" solution, alongside its strategic ambitions of NATO and EU integration. Ultimately, Ukraine has proven it is not merely a recipient of aid but a formidable innovator and a key actor in its own destiny. The courage and ingenuity of the Ukrainian people have provided a powerful lesson for the democratic world: that a unified, adaptive, and resilient nation can stand against a larger aggressor. The outcome of this war will therefore not only determine the future of Ukraine but will also profoundly shape the landscape of global security for decades to come.