From:
Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street, Ministry of Defence, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Published:
24 August 2026
- UK set to become the first international partner to access Ukraine’s Avengers AI Labs, allowing the two countries to accelerate the development of AI tools to shape the battlefield
- Signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Kyiv, the AI Partnership will see the UK back Ukraine with world-leading universities, researchers, technology companies and third largest AI eco-system in the world
- Forms key part of the UK and Ukraine’s 100 Year Partnership and comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces that defence firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP
A landmark AI deal between the UK and Ukraine has been signed today as the two countries join forces to develop new military capabilities and the technology of the future.
Bringing together Britain’s world-leading AI ecosystem with Ukraine’s operational experience, engineering talent and technological innovation, the new deal signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Ukraine today will enable access to Ukraine’s coveted Avengers AI Labs database.
The platform provides real world data and insights to train AI models, collected by thousands of daylight cameras and infrared sensors across the battlefield in Ukraine.
Those sensors and cameras capture millions of objects, such as tanks, artillery, air defence systems, infantry, and aerial targets, including Shahed drones and reconnaissance UAVs, feeding back data to the Avengers Lab to train new AI models.
With potential to revolutionise all parts of public life, from air traffic control to train systems, the deal will first focus on defence and national security – bringing together engineers, academics, projects have been rolled out with three British startups including Bristol’s Sintela, Oxford’s Mind Foundry and London’s Skyral.
The first of the trial technology is about to be rolled out at a UK defence site to protect bases from protestors and hostile actors trying to gain intelligence.
The project, which uses Ukrainian data and UK technology, turns buried fibre-optic cables into a giant AI-enabled sensor. As well as military bases, the technology could be rolled out to protect airports, prisons and even railways and energy plants in the future.
The second project will see the UK and Ukraine explore the development of next-generation low-power AI chips designed to power future drones, robotics and autonomous systems.
If successful, the technology could underpin a new generation of intelligent machines capable of operating for longer, responding faster and functioning in environments where conventional systems struggle.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said:
Ukraine is pushing the frontier of defence innovation as they bravely resist Putin’s illegal invasion. From supporting with military equipment and training to co-developing cutting-edge technology, the UK will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
The deal, which forms a key part of the UK and Ukraine’s 100 Year Partnership, underlines the close relationship between both countries to drive global security and stability and ensure Ukraine has the capability and means to defend itself from Russia’s barbaric invasion.
It also comes after the Prime Minister announced that the UK has agreed that defence firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP, to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine.
Minister for AI, Kanishka Narayan said:
Britain and Ukraine are the closest of partners. Ukraine’s extraordinary courage on the battlefield has been matched by remarkable technological ingenuity.
“By giving British start-ups, researchers and engineers access to insights from its Avengers AI platform, we are taking that partnership further and helping Britain develop the next generation of defence technology.
This is AI sovereignty in practice: building our own capabilities and turning frontline experience into systems that protect our armed forces overseas and our critical infrastructure at home.
