Ukraine's tech minister envisions AI "agents" helping citizens with public services

Ukraine’s digital ministry envisions the next stage of the country's efforts towards deepening electronic governance as including AI “agents” capable of navigating bureaucracy on behalf of citizens.

Oleksandr Bornyakov, the acting minister of digital transformation, told Polish media outlet TVP World that Ukraine is moving beyond being merely a “country on a smartphone.”

Bornyakov described a scenario in which an app could handle tasks such as changing a residential address by pulling data from registries, asking follow-up questions, and verifying documents via a phone camera—while also alerting users when wartime rules apply. He also envisions them potentially turning complex paperwork into a simple voice command.

“The goal is to spare citizens from having to understand the complexity of the government machine,” he said, emphasizing the plan to replace forms and guidance notes with conversational, automated workflows.

Bornyakov also highlighted Ukraine’s reliance on satellite connectivity amid daily Russian strikes, noting that the number of Starlink terminals exceeds “hundreds of thousands” and that hospitals, schools near the front line, energy sites, and government institutions depend on the network.

He credited Poland with providing Starlink units early in the war, calling the support a “huge impact,” revealing that  Poland has provided Ukraine with more than 29,000 Starlink terminals since the outbreak of the war in 2022.

Additionally, Bornyakov said Ukraine is focusing on strengthening the digital economy and “technical sovereignty,” which includes domestic production of electronics and components needed for drones.

By Nazrin Sadigova