Our website uses cookies to provide your browsing experience and relevant information. Before continuing to use our website, you agree & accept our Cookie Policy & Privacy.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, is 31 years old. Before the 2019 presidential elections, he was known only in Zaporizhzhia, where he studied and lived. Fedorov was the founder and CEO of “SMMSTUDIO” — a digital agency of which there are hundreds in Ukraine. Everything changed in 2019, when he headed the digital department of the campaign headquarters of then-presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky. He made a key bet on social networks. Later, Fedorov became a candidate for an MP, receiving a passable sixth place in the list of “Servant of the People” party. He almost did not work in the parliament, though: already in August 2019, Fedorov headed the Ministry of Digital Transformation and is one of the few ministers who has remained in office from the first composition of the Cabinet of Ministers until now. The main reason is that Zelensky trusts him and considers him one of the most effective ministers. For the rest of Ukrainians, Fedorov is the “Diia” service. In the application, one can help the army, buy military bonds, get unemployment benefits, submit a claim for damaged property, pay fines for traffic violations, and much more. There are digital copies of all important documents of Ukrainians and COVID-19 certificates. Until February 24, “Diia” was often criticized. Now, Ukrainians who have traveled abroad and encountered European bureaucracy say that the application is a technical miracle. Fedorov promised to spend the day with “Babel” back in February this year, but due to the beginning of a full-scale invasion, plans had to be changed. And not only these. Next year, the budget of his Ministry will be cut by a record 86% — itʼs 3.7 billion hryvnias, but Fedorov says he will go through it. What new things should be expected from the minister and his young team (as itʼs often called) — tells “Babel”ʼs journalist Maria Zhartovska. She spent one rather peaceful day with him.
