Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine

On 25 March 2026, Mstyslav Banik was appointed Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, joining the team led by Mykhailo Fedorov. Prior to this appointment, he served as Head of Digital Products at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

Mstyslav Banik was born in 1990 in Uzhhorod. In 2011, he graduated from the Kirovohrad Institute of Commerce, now known as the Robert Elworthy Economics and Technology Institute, with a degree in Finance. In 2011–2012, he obtained a Specialist degree in Marketing and Marketing Management. In 2024, he graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv with a degree in Public Management and Administration.

Until 2019, he worked in the private sector as an entrepreneur, focusing on marketing, online communications, and digital product development for businesses. In 2019, he entered public service at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, where he oversaw the launch and development of Diia, one of Europe’s largest GovTech projects.

In 2024, Mstyslav Banik voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the CODE 9.2 unit, progressing from soldier to officer, contributing to the establishment of an FPV drone unit, and serving at the staff level. He took part in the Kursk campaign with the CODE 9.2 unit. FPV drone crews contributed to the destruction of enemy equipment, fortifications, and personnel, and supported the documentation of the capture of russian military personnel.

In 2025, he assumed the position of Head of Digital Products at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, where he led the development of Army+ and Reserve+, established a product vision, and transitioned teams to a product-driven model.
As a member of the Minister of Defence’s team, Mstyslav Banik will be responsible for reforming the procurement system to ensure that defense procurement for Ukraine’s military is among the most transparent and efficient in the world.