Inside Dignitas Ukraine’s Innovation Night in New York

Last week, more than 100 people gathered at the Ukrainian National Home in New York City for an event with a title that captures the moment perfectly: Fighting for the Future: Ukraine’s Innovation in the Skies and on the Ground.

And believe us – the evening was anything but quiet.

The room filled fast with people from every corner of defense tech – engineers, drone builders, veterans, entrepreneurs, students, and longtime supporters. Most were American, some hearing about Dignitas Ukraine for the first time, but all came with one thing in common: a curiosity about how Ukraine is reshaping modern warfare. Many follow the war closely, others have family in the U.S. military, but most were simply drawn to the innovation – because today, Ukraine is driving some of the fastest-moving tech on the battlefield.

One guest, an American of Ukrainian descent, now works at a company developing software that accelerates coding for drone modeling and battlefield simulations by nearly ten times and attended specifically to discuss collaboration with our team to support Ukrainian defenders. 

Encounters like that tell you exactly why events like this matter.

A night shaped by voices who know the war firsthand

The program opened with Andriy Boychuk, Chief Marketing Officer and Board Member of Dignitas Ukraine, who introduced the mission and set the tone for the night.

Then came an insightful panel discussion that kicked off with a powerful presentation from Dmytro Kavun, President of Dignitas Ukraine.

Dmytro has spent the last three years coordinating life-saving logistics and now leads the foundation’s technology and innovation initiatives. He walked the audience through our key programs and accomplishments in 2025 – Victory Drones, Victory Robots, Tech Explorers, Flight to Recovery, and our newest initiative, Freedom Sky / Anti-Shahed Training.

He explained why, in this war, training is often more important than equipment itself. Drones, ground robots, and electronic warfare systems are only as effective as the people operating them. 

In 2025 alone, Dignitas Ukraine trained:

• 40,000+ drone operators through its Victory Drones program 
• 1,693 ground robotics operators through Victory Robots, Ukraine’s first Ground Robotic Systems school 
• 220+ specialists through FreedomSky, its Anti-Shahed counter-drone defense initiative launched this year 

The audience leaned forward as he spoke. When the Q&A started, hands shot up across the room.

The audience was captivated, asking detailed questions about military logistics, decision-making on the battlefield and drone tactics.

Dmytro said something that surprised many in the room: in Ukraine, military units can request equipment directly from manufacturers without waiting for state approval. 

Why is this a big deal?

Even though Ukraine’s government can move faster than many others, war doesn’t wait for bureaucracy. Dmytro emphasized: in today’s war, speed equals survival. This bypass – impossible in most countries – is what allows life-saving tech to reach the front line in weeks or even days instead of months or years.

This is exactly why Ukraine’s procurement system stands out. Instead of relying only on centralized purchasing, frontline units can request equipment directly from manufacturers or volunteer foundations, cutting out delays and getting what they need fast. Because, in wartime, speed and agility aren’t optional – they’re survival. 

Volunteer groups like Dignitas Ukraine help close urgent gaps by supplying everything from drones to mobile laundry units, while private distributors travel the world to source specialized gear and bring it straight into the country. The result is a decentralized, highly adaptive ecosystem that gives Ukrainian forces more options and rapid access to critical technology – something traditional procurement systems simply cannot match.

Innovation, exports, and the realities of building for the battlefield

Katya Soldak, Director of the Forbes Newsroom, moderated the panel. Known for leading high-level interviews, including with presidents of some European countries, she kept the conversation sharp and focused. Her questions highlighted Ukraine’s frontline realities and the innovation driving its defense-tech progress.

David Bonfili – a former U.S. Navy nuclear submarine officer, Rhodes Scholar, and the CEO of ACME General. His role navigating the intersection of government, defense, and private innovation made him one of the evening’s most anticipated voices.

David spoke about what American manufacturers can expect when entering the Ukrainian market – the challenges, the opportunities, and why the companies that succeed will be those most agile in testing and learning from the Ukrainian battlefield.

His key point stayed with many attendees:

For American drone manufacturers, exporting to other countries matters – because establishing export pathways abroad makes it dramatically easier to export drones to Ukraine as well.

War journalist David Kirichenko followed with a gripping talk about how modern warfare is changing. He explained that today’s war is not trench-based – it is drone-driven. According to the statistics, 82% of russian losses come from drones, and less than 20% from artillery and infantry. 

He shared stories from 10 years on the Ukrainian frontlines – from muddy dugouts to evacuation convoys. He also recalled meeting Lyuba Shipovich early on, a connection that opened access to key frontline areas and deepened his commitment to accurate reporting. Those experiences pushed him to tell Ukraine’s story through outlets like Forbes, Kyiv Post, CEPA, and other global media.

Then came Lt. Mykola Melnyk of Ukraine’s 47th Brigade – a veteran with deep operational experience and one of the instructors in the Dignitas Anti-Shahed program. His speech was raw, honest, and deeply human.

He spoke about learning to shoot down drones in real combat conditions, about racing to defend the fields and villages where his own children and family lived, and about the devastating cost of failure – not only for soldiers, but for civilians across Ukraine.

Oleh Bonchynskyi and Denys Hayda were among the evening’s key attendees, joined by several Ukrainian veterans currently undergoing rehabilitation in the U.S. They took part in the discussion and continued speaking with guests long after the panel ended, sharing their experiences and answering thoughtful questions as part of their mission to spread the truth about the war in Ukraine.

And then… the silence auction

After the panel, Dignitas hosted a small silent charity auction featuring unique items that drew a crowd:

• A poster artwork “Drone. Ukrainian Sky,” created entirely with pen and gold leaf
• The book “Wartime Posters”
• A piece of a drone shot down by Lt. Mykola Melnyk, stamped by the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Volunteers explained the story behind each item, guests examined them up close, and conversations naturally flowed. 

Students who volunteered for the first time added great energy – their presence gave the evening a warm, fresh vibe that many mentioned afterward.

And then…

As the program wrapped up, attendees stayed to connect with the speakers, Dignitas volunteers, and one another. Small groups formed naturally as people asked questions, exchanged contacts, and continued the conversations that began on stage, creating a warm and engaging community atmosphere. The conversations continued late into the night.

Why events like this matter

For many attendees, it was the first time they truly saw how quickly Ukraine is transforming modern warfare through drones, robotics, and battlefield innovation – how volunteers accelerate that progress, and how much depends on continued global support.

For our team at Dignitas Ukraine, it was a clear reminder that people want to learn, contribute, and stand with those defending freedom.

The future of this fight is being built right now. And together, we’re shaping it – for Ukraine, for Europe, and for a safer future for all.

The Community Behind This Event

A huge thank you to the incredible volunteers who brought this event to life — Yulia O’Connell, Dmytro Kavun, Andriy Boychuk, Olena Speranska, Irina Kavun, Kateryna Bly, and Asya Ivaniv. Your energy, care, and countless hours made everything possible. We’re especially grateful to Andriy Boychuk and Katya Soldak for guiding the evening and leading the panel with clarity and heart. And our deep thanks to Dmytro Kavun, David Bonfili, David Kirichenko, and Lt. Mykola Melnyk for a powerful, eye-opening conversation that resonated with everyone in the room. Deep thanks as well to Veselka for the delicious hors d’oeuvres that brought everyone together.

To all the volunteers who helped throughout the evening – greeting guests, coordinating logistics, and making sure everything ran smoothly – we truly couldn’t have done it without you.

To all who joined us — thank you. Your questions, your curiosity, and your willingness to engage turned this event into a meaningful shared moment. We’re grateful you chose to spend your evening with us, you made the evening unforgettable.