Ukraine’s Ambassador to Finland: “We must win the technological race”

According to Ukraine’s Ambassador to Finland Mykhailo Vydoinyk, the outcome of the war will be decided by technology. Deepening Finnish–Ukrainian cooperation is essential at a time when Ukraine is grappling with a winter-worsened shortage of energy and urban infrastructure.

Text, video and photos: Petri Kangas
Additional interview photos: Tapio Yliaho

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Finland Mykhailo Vydoinyk considers winning the technological race essential for a favourable outcome to the war. According to Vydoinyk, it is crucial that Finnish and Ukrainian companies in the drone sector, hobbyists, cybersecurity experts, electronics and software engineers, and researchers join forces.

“Finland has a wealth of expertise, sharp thinkers and top engineers in their respective fields. What matters most now is finding common ground where these skills can be brought together, allowing us to develop new solutions and further refine what already exists,” Vydoinyk says.

He visited the Drone Innovation Hackathon (21–23 January 2026) at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, as well as the award ceremony at the Platform 6 startup hub.

The ambassador уточifies that cooperation is not limited to rhetoric.

“We want to talk to people, meet them, see what kind of ideas they have, and how those ideas can be implemented in Ukraine. Your companies have a unique opportunity to test their equipment in real battlefield conditions and develop it based on how warfare is conducted in the 21st century.”

According to Vydoinyk, Ukraine does not intend to rebuild its destroyed infrastructure as it was before the war.

“We do not want to restore what existed before the war. We want to build something safer and technologically more advanced, starting from scratch,” he says.

Vydoinyk encourages companies to contact the Embassy of Ukraine in Finland, local actors and business networks. In his view, cooperation progresses best when companies have a presence in Ukraine and work with local partners.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Finland Mykhailo Vydoinyk visits Tampere regularly. He attended the two-day ENDR defence industry event (2–3 December 2025) at Tampere Hall late last year, where he followed the programme together with Regional Mayor Anna-Mari Ahonen. Photo: Petri Kangas / Business Tampere

Winter intensifies the humanitarian need

The ambassador notes that the winter has been difficult, with shortages of energy and urban infrastructure.

Vydoinyk appeals to Tampere, one of Ukraine’s sister cities.

“Right now, cities, municipalities and local actors play a decisive role. Through them, aid can be delivered quickly. All assistance is welcome, starting with individual generators,” Vydoinyk says.

Helsingin Sanomat (HS, 26 January 2026) recently published an editorial on Ukraine’s winter, civilian living conditions and the state of peace negotiations.

“By targeting power, heating and water infrastructure, Russia has sought to make everyday life for Ukrainian civilians so unbearable that Ukraine would submit to Russia’s terms for peace. This winter, however, the strikes have intensified while Kyiv’s air defence has weakened. This has meant a harsh winter for the city’s residents,” the paper writes.

Vydoinyk links Ukraine’s experience to broader European security:

“Ukrainian soldiers are buying Europe time. That time should be used for preparation, not for waiting.”