Earlier this week, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov spoke of the importance of digitalisation during wartime.
“Digitalisation became crucial in the first weeks of the war,” he said. “Despite active hostilities, customs services remained operational, pensions and salaries were paid, and the banking system continued to function effectively.
“In just a few days, we also developed the e-Enemy chatbot, enabling citizens to report the locations of Russian equipment and personnel through civilian intelligence efforts.”
Fedorov also pointed out that the high level of digitalisation Ukraine had achieved before 2022 helped the country maintain government operations during the crisis, before adding that, “The future of Ukraine lies in digitalisation. We’ve already become one of global leaders, and after the war ends, we will share our products and expertise with other countries.”
Indeed, countries around the world would do well to follow Ukraine’s lead. The push for digitalisation should not need a war: the impetus needs to be there in peacetime too.
Ukraine’s example should serve as a clarion call to governments worldwide. While the digital revolution has enabled economic growth, open markets, and cheaper access to services, it has also transformed how states interact, mobilise, and protect themselves.
Now, as Ukraine’s leaders have demonstrated, national resilience increasingly depends upon a government’s ability to maintain core functions online. Yet this is not solely the domain of war-torn nations. In times of natural disaster, pandemic, or social unrest, a digital backbone that enables online public services can preserve social order and expedite recovery.
Around the globe, countries that invest in digital solutions will likely find themselves better equipped to weather future disruptions—both man-made and otherwise.
Ukraine’s digital determination
Ukraine’s story is, in many ways, an extreme example of how digitalisation can help preserve a nation under duress.
For years, the country had been quietly modernising its digital infrastructure. The government launched Diia, a comprehensive public-services platform, enabling Ukrainians to access everything from birth certificates and business registrations to driver’s licenses—all from a single mobile app.
When Russia invaded, millions relied on Diia to obtain documentation, apply for humanitarian assistance, and receive official notifications. By design, the service remained operational even when physical administrative offices came under threat or were physically destroyed.
Equally notable is Ukraine’s ability to rapidly mobilise digital volunteers and hackathons that leveraged its vibrant IT talent pool.
Grassroots groups sprang up to bolster cybersecurity, detect and mitigate propaganda, and coordinate humanitarian logistics. If the hallmark of a digitally resilient nation is a well-oiled synergy between government and industry, Ukraine passed with flying colours.
This agile collaboration was critical not only in keeping state functions running but in countering the Kremlin’s attempts to sow confusion through online misinformation campaigns.
Yet Ukraine’s digital transformation did not happen overnight; it was the product of long-term planning and investment. In the wake of the Maidan protests of 2014, the government spearheaded a series of reforms aimed at reducing corruption and streamlining public services.
By the time hostilities flared, the foundations of a modern state were already in place. Ukraine’s readiness offers a playbook for governments seeking to insulate themselves against a variety of potential crises.
Other digital trailblazers
While Ukraine’s circumstances are unique, it is certainly not alone in tapping technology to boost public-sector resilience. Several countries, whether driven by necessity or foresight, have established robust digital infrastructures that now serve as a bulwark against chaos.
Estonia, for instance, is widely regarded as the global poster child for e-government. Its e-Residency programme and digital ID system allow Estonian citizens—and, in certain cases, foreign entrepreneurs—to conduct almost all government-related affairs online.
From tax filing to company formation, virtually every interaction can be accomplished via digital platforms. Critically, Estonia’s ‘data embassy’ initiative ensures that public records are backed up on servers located abroad, protecting sensitive information from any potential shutdown within the country’s borders.
Estonia’s progress in forging a paperless bureaucracy is the fruit of consistent investment and a political culture that views digitalisation as a cornerstone of national security, not merely a convenience.
Singapore likewise has embraced digital solutions across virtually every realm of government. Driven by the Smart Nation programme, it has integrated a network of sensors and data-collection tools to manage everything from traffic flows to public health initiatives.
Citizens can interact with government agencies via a single, secure platform, and the city-state has introduced dynamic digital ID solutions to streamline these interactions. Such initiatives reduce bureaucracy, improve efficiency, and grant Singapore a powerful mechanism to detect and address issues at scale.
Scandinavian nations have also carved out leading positions. Denmark, which consistently ranks among the world’s most digital-savvy countries, has leveraged digitalisation to underpin universal healthcare, welfare, and public services.
It is no coincidence that Denmark, along with neighbouring Finland and Sweden, frequently tops charts of government transparency and civic engagement. The synergy between well-functioning digital infrastructure and high citizen trust is evident: when a government actively reduces friction in service delivery, citizens are likelier to perceive public institutions as efficient and responsive.
Lessons in best practice
Despite differing in size, culture, and resources, these digital front-runners offer several insights that can guide countries aiming to fortify themselves digitally.
The first is political will and policy alignment. Digital success requires firm support from top leadership. In Estonia, prime ministers spanning multiple administrations have championed e-governance, ensuring long-term consistency. Ukraine’s digital reforms have enjoyed robust support from the presidency on down, crystallising an otherwise broad policy initiative into tangible systems.
Then there’s public-private collaboration. Governments, no matter how competent, cannot design and maintain robust digital services alone. Ukraine’s partnership with its IT sector, Estonia’s alliances with private tech firms, and Singapore’s ecosystem of start-ups demonstrate the importance of harnessing private expertise.
The best digital frameworks emerge when governments provide a clear, strategic vision, and private innovators fill in the technical details.
Cybersecurity is also crucial. A nation’s digital infrastructure is only as strong as its weakest link. Estonia’s data embassy is a prime example of building in redundancy. The logic is simple: if public records can be wiped out by a single missile or a cyber-attack, the digital system as a whole is vulnerable.
Other countries are now pursuing similar measures, establishing multiple data centres and employing advanced encryption. Governments serious about resilience treat cybersecurity not as an afterthought but as the core design principle.
Furthermore, slick government platforms do little good if citizens resist or neglect them. Successful digital transformation hinges on intuitive user experiences that encourage widespread adoption. While some older generations might harbour scepticism, inclusive design and educational campaigns can help overcome these hurdles.
Estonia’s e-ID, for instance, is nearly ubiquitous for daily life: from opening bank accounts to signing official documents, people find it practical and time-saving, which has driven enthusiastic uptake.
Finally, governments need to build trust. Digital systems rest upon intangible but crucial foundations, such as robust data privacy. Countries that have pioneered digital services have typically fostered transparency in data handling and communications.
Singapore’s government devotes considerable efforts to reassure citizens that their data is secure and used responsibly. For democratic nations especially, maintaining public confidence is vital for digital initiatives to remain politically viable.
Digital transformation is no panacea
The stakes of digitalisation have never been clearer. While advanced digital infrastructure might not literally stop tanks in their tracks, it can preserve a state’s functional essence in the darkest hour—guaranteeing that government information systems, financial networks, and communications channels remain intact.
Moreover, in times of crisis that are not necessarily related to war (as seen during pandemics or natural disasters), robust e-government solutions can expedite relief efforts, minimise bureaucratic red tape, and bolster a sense of normalcy.
The precise steps will vary by country. Some, like Germany, might prioritise bridging a digital gap in healthcare services. Others, like India, continue to develop universal ID systems (Aadhaar) that allow millions of citizens in remote regions to access welfare.
Emerging economies across Africa, where digital payments and mobile-first platforms have proved transformative, demonstrate that digitalisation is no longer a luxury confined to richer states. The ability to leapfrog traditional infrastructure, in some respects, can be more easily accomplished in nations with fewer legacy systems to dismantle.
But governments should be wary of painting digital transformation as a panacea. The evolution towards a digital state often involves short-term disruptions that can unsettle both public servants and citizens.
Not everyone finds it easy to trade paper for pixels overnight, and high-profile cyberattacks can undermine confidence in an online system’s reliability. Thus, any roll-out of digital services needs to be accompanied by robust cybersecurity planning, legislative frameworks, and user education.
Yet the benefits of progress far outweigh the potential hiccups, especially when set against a global stage where crises—conflict, climate disasters, viral outbreaks—can emerge with little warning. In many countries, the conversation around digital government still hinges on convenience, cost-saving, or the desire to modernise.
The experience of Ukraine, Estonia, Singapore, and others underscores a more urgent rationale: digitalisation as a matter of national survival.
