Ukraine has launched an innovative mobile application to revolutionize how it manages its “one-million-strong” army.
Dubbed the Army+ app, it frees the armed forces from the usual paper-based bureaucracy and allows soldiers to access services and benefits easily.
For example, a soldier can use the app to file up to 11 types of reports instead of submitting them on paper, which can often be a tedious and time-consuming process.
It also allows users to request emergency leave, medical treatment, and financial assistance.
Although the Army+ app currently offers limited functions, Kyiv plans to expand it to cover other essential services and include all of the nearly 200 reports used in military service.
‘At the Forefront of Innovation’
The creation of Army+ follows the success of the Diia mobile app that Ukrainian citizens have been using to easily access public services.
Like Diia, the military app aims to become the first-ever unified armed forces database in Ukraine, which would ensure safe and smooth digital interaction among soldiers, army commanders, and the state.
It would also put Kyiv at the forefront of military innovation, as the US and other NATO member states have been using similar systems.
“We are transforming the Ukrainian military into the army of the future,” said Kateryna Chernohorenko, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister for digital transformation.
With the launch of the Army+ app, Ukraine stands as the only country to develop and implement such a digital system while fighting an existential war.
Biggest Challenges
Chernohorenko claimed that the app’s adoption rate among the military is “incredibly high,” with over 150,000 Ukrainian soldiers already signed up.
Despite this, she noted that broader implementation remains a major challenge due to soldiers’ distrust of government reforms.
Some troops are also doubtful about the new app making a real difference in how Kyiv manages its armed forces.
Accessing the app can also be challenging for soldiers deployed on the frontline, where internet connectivity is unstable.
