On February 24th, 2022, Oleksandr Bornyakov, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation, found himself driving into a firefight in Kyiv, as Russia’s full-scale invasion began. Russian saboteurs clashed with Ukrainian forces in the city center.
“There was shooting, burning cars, burning armored vehicles… when we finally passed… there were many casualties,” he recalls.
Ordered to relocate west, Bornyakov continued his work, overseeing Diia, a government services app launched in 2019. The app aimed to provide citizens with mobile access to essential documents and services—driver’s licenses, marriage certificates, property deeds, and more.
Initially popular with driver’s license access, Diia’s usage surged during the pandemic with the addition of Covid certificates, adding millions of users. Despite the war, Diia’s development continued.
Today, Diia offers 40 services, including tax payments, vehicle registration, and even Eurovision voting. Thirty documents are available digitally, and a companion Diia portal provides 130 services for citizens and businesses. The app boasts 22.7 million users.
Bornyakov asserts that Ukraine’s digital government services lead the world, surpassing even Estonia’s renowned system, possibly only rivaled by Saudi Arabia in scale and approach.
How did Ukraine achieve this amidst war and pandemic? Bornyakov credits Ukraine’s large and skilled IT workforce, honed by two decades of international outsourcing. He estimates 300,000 software developers, many with experience on large-scale projects for global companies, contributed to Diia’s development—at a fraction of the cost of Western developers.
David Eaves, associate professor of digital government at University College London, highlights Ukraine’s pre-existing data exchange infrastructure, similar to Estonia’s, as crucial. This facilitated seamless data flow between government agencies, simplifying service creation and eliminating redundant information requests from citizens.
This agility enabled rapid adaptation to wartime needs; Diia added 15 war-related services, including property damage compensation claims and reporting Russian troop locations. Eaves notes the war’s role in accelerating modernization, prioritizing service delivery over bureaucratic hurdles.
While acknowledging Denmark’s leading position in digital government, Eaves places Ukraine among the top performers. Looking ahead, Ukraine is developing AI systems to further streamline government interactions, aiming for AI-guided user experiences.
Eaves cautions that robust data and thorough training are vital for successful AI implementation, emphasizing the importance of a strong foundation—good “roads”—before deploying sophisticated technology.
The pact between the US and UK means tariffs will be reduced on certain goods such as cars entering the US.
Leonard Lauder joined his parents’ company in 1958 and served as chief executive for 17 years.
American production is possible, but it often needs to be automated to be cost effective.
Dmitriy Kurashov is the first Russian soldier to stand trial in Ukraine over a battlefield execution.
Maryna Georgieva praises Ukrainian beekeepers who have carried on working during the war.