EPISODE · Apr 20, 2026 · 15 MIN
Meet the Startup - RATEL: Inside Ukraine’s UGV Revolution
from FORWARD with Valeriya Ionan · host Valeriya Ionan
In this episode, I speak with Taras Ostapchuk, founder of Ratel, one of the largest UGV (unmanned ground vehicle) producers in Ukraine. What started as a response to real battlefield needs has rapidly scaled into a company producing up to 200 robots per month from combat systems to logistics and evacuation platforms. These robots are used every day on the battlefield, replacing soldiers in dangerous missions, delivering supplies, deploying mines and evacuating the wounded. But this story is bigger than defense. Ukraine is building a new model of innovation - fast, collaborative, and battle-tested. The UGV ecosystem is scaling in real time. We discuss: how war accelerates innovation cycles, why Ukrainian solutions are up to 10x more cost-effective, how UGVs are evolving into dual-use technologies (from firefighting to rescue missions), and why international partnerships are critical to scaling production. If you are interested in partnerships, investments, or collaboration - this is the moment to engage. 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube.
What this episode covers
In this episode, I speak with Taras Ostapchuk, founder of Ratel, one of the largest UGV (unmanned ground vehicle) producers in Ukraine. What started as a response to real battlefield needs has rapidly scaled into a company producing up to 200 robots per month from combat systems to logistics and evacuation platforms. These robots are used every day on the battlefield, replacing soldiers in dangerous missions, delivering supplies, deploying mines and evacuating the wounded. But this story is bigger than defense. Ukraine is building a new model of innovation - fast, collaborative, and battle-tested. The UGV ecosystem is scaling in real time. We discuss: how war accelerates innovation cycles, why Ukrainian solutions are up to 10x more cost-effective, how UGVs are evolving into dual-use technologies (from firefighting to rescue missions), and why international partnerships are critical to scaling production. If you are interested in partnerships, investments, or collaboration - this is the moment to engage. 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube.
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Meet the Startup - RATEL: Inside Ukraine’s UGV Revolution
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