From Diia to Deep Strikes: 4 Ways Ukraine Reinvented Itself Since Independence

Since declaring independence in 1991, Ukraine has transformed far beyond the Soviet legacy it inherited – building a digital state used by millions, becoming a drone-production powerhouse and developing its own long-range weapons. Its most striking breakthroughs have come under the pressure of Russia’s full-scale war, forcing Ukraine to innovate faster, cheaper and deeper than ever before.Here are several of the most notable things Ukraine has built, created or fundamentally changed since independence.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.A ‘state in a smartphone’ used by millionDiia, Ukraine’s digital-government platform, has become one of the country’s most visible examples of digital transformation.The platform includes a mobile application, web portal and digital services developed by the Ministry of Digital Transformation under a concept first promoted by President Volodymyr Zelensky.On May 23, 2019, shortly after his election, Zelensky outlined the idea of a “state in a smartphone” that would allow Ukrainians to interact with the government and access public services using their phones.Diia allows users to store digital versions of documents, including driver’s licenses and internal passports, and share their copies when accessing banking, postal and other services.The platform also allows Ukrainians to access a wide range of government services, including registering a business or individual entrepreneur, paying taxes, filing declarations, changing their place of registration and applying for the eOselya affordable-housing program. Other Topics of Interest Ukrainian Basketball Player Leaves LSU After Tigers Sign Russian Athlete LSU head coach Kim Mulkey announced Koval’s departure on Monday, saying the 6-foot-5 center was leaving the program for “personal reasons.” Through Diia, Ukrainians can also receive payments under the eBaby program, access National Cashback, donate to the military and purchase military bonds.The platform had more than 21 million users by 2024.Ukraine emerges as a drone-production powerhouseUkraine has also rapidly transformed its defense industry, particularly in the field of unmanned systems. Bloomberg reported in November 2025 that Ukraine had become one of the world’s leaders in unmanned vehicle technologies, producing around 4 million drones annually, ranging from first-person view (FPV) systems to long-range strike drones.That figure has since grown significantly.In mid-July 2026, Zelensky said Ukraine was capable of producing around 10 million drones a year, with plans to double production to 20 million.He also said Ukrainian interceptor drones were already destroying at least 90% of Russian Shahed-type strike drones.Ukraine’s drone industry is also expanding internationally. Skyeton has opened a production site in Slovakia, while FlyWell is preparing joint production with Finnish company Summa Defence. Fire Point has received Danish support to develop rocket fuel for its Flamingo systems.More than 200 companies producing military drones and around 50 specializing in electronic warfare systems are currently registered in Ukraine.Ukraine develops its own ballistic missilesUkraine has also made progress in an area where it had long depended heavily on foreign weapons: ballistic missiles.In June 2026, Ukraine announced the development of two domestically produced ballistic missiles – the tactical FP-7 and longer-range FP-9 – both developed by Ukrainian defense company Fire Point. According to the manufacturer, the FP-7 has a range of more than 200 kilometers, a 150-kilogram warhead and a flight speed of around 1,500 meters per second.Its design uses the body of the Soviet-era S-300 missile, an approach that allowed developers to save time on designing a new fuselage and conducting aerodynamic testing.Fire Point has said the missile could cost around $500,000, compared with an estimated $1 million-$1.5 million for an American ATACMS.The larger FP-9 is designed for significantly longer-range strikes. Its declared range is 855 kilometers, with an 800-kilogram warhead.The missile is still being developed. Fire Point executive Denis Stillerman said the company has the drive, control system and housing for the FP-9, but is still working on the engine.“We have everything for the ‘nine’ ... except for the engine for now,” Stillerman said.Operation Spiderweb: Attacking Russian strategic aviationPerhaps the most spectacular demonstration of Ukraine’s technological and operational innovation came on June 1, 2025, with the Security Service (SBU’s) Operation SpiderwebThe operation targeted Russian military airfields hosting strategic bombers, including Olenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo and Belaya.According to Ukrainian officials, 117 drones were used in the operation, which was prepared over approximately 18 months.The drones were transported into Russia and concealed beneath the roofs of wooden modular structures placed on trucks. At the designated moment, the roofs opened remotely, allowing the drones to launch and attack Russian airbases.The SBU estimated that the value of the Russian military equipment damaged in the operation exceeded $7 billion and said 41 aircraft were affected, including A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22 and Tu-160 aircraft, as well as An-12 and Il-78 planes.The operation demonstrated that Ukraine could strike Russian strategic aviation hundreds and even thousands of kilometers from its borders without relying on conventional long-range missiles.The scale and ingenuity of the attack attracted international attention.The Washington Post described the operation as Ukraine “rewriting the rules of warfare,” while The New York Times called it one of the largest attacks on military targets in Russia during the full-scale war.The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the operation dealt a major blow to Russia’s long-range bomber fleet, while The Times described it as one of Ukraine’s most ambitious and successful operations of the war.Then-SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk said the drones used in the operation carried approximately 1.6 kilograms of high-explosive material and incorporated several communication systems.The operation also demonstrated another Ukrainian innovation: compartmentalization.According to Malyuk, the people who manufactured the drones and modular structures did not know their ultimate purpose. Those transporting the equipment were similarly kept unaware of the broader operation.At the final stage, selected drone operators were brought to a command post, where their phones were taken away and each operator received an individual target and detailed terrain information.The result was an operation that combined relatively inexpensive unmanned systems, unconventional logistics, remote control and meticulous planning to strike some of Russia’s most valuable military assets.