War and Action: How has the country’s mainstream practice changed since the start of a full-scale invasion?

Changes covering the whole Ukraine after February 24 also affected the digitization processes that have gained momentum in recent years. The Invasion also changed Diya. First the records were disabled, then gradually restored. Some scheduled services had to be frozen, perhaps some canceled altogether.

How did Diya change after the start of a full-scale war?

We asked Mstislav Banik what the biggest challenges in Diya’s work were, what the toughest situations were, and what the developers had to sacrifice. Here’s what he answered:

Before the occupation, we had an active life and projects we were working on. Literally 2 weeks before the invasion, we held a Dia Summit where we offered new services. There, in particular, surveys and other things that we will have time to talk about. Dia Summit is always a great starting point when we’re working on and introducing new services that change certain areas.

Of course, after the occupation, we started to work on the services needed in the context of the war. It turned out sharply – not a decrease in speed, but even an increase. We are not just an institution, we are a ministry and our mission is to serve and take care of people.

When we sat down to work on February 25th, we definitely realized that we have even less time than usual, because people need solutions to their problems, they need help right now, not in a week, a month, or six months from now. Accordingly, that period was perhaps the most difficult because every day was important.

First new services in Diya

• We started with the basics and continued is a document. At the beginning of the occupation, the registries were disabled for additional security reasons and the persons authorized in the Action were left alone with their documents. Anyone who installed or previously uninstalled the app for the first time no longer had access to any documents. Next, we created the eDocument based on the authorization data. We get the information there either from BankID when a person is authorized or through passport.
• They started right away fundraising It was the first such experience through Diya, and possibly in modern history. First there was the “Return Alive” fund, then “United24” and now “Drone Army”.
• As you may remember later, the Russians tried to attack Ukrainian television and radio stations and to seize television channels. Remember all the fortifications, like “Zelensky surrendered and died, died and surrendered.” Then whatever happened happened. And it was extremely important to maintain this contact with the people, especially since the occupation of the southern regions was very rapid. Then we made a decision run television and radio through action. Yes, the telethon can be watched somewhere on YouTube, but when we had 16 million users back then, it is an opportunity to give relevant information to all these people who were occupied, who were in the subway, who lived in the parking lot. share.

Being in contact with people was extremely important. Therefore, such services were not very complicated, as they are new to us and require very high speed.

When we launched 3 years ago (the launch of Diya – channel 24), many people said that the mobile app is strictly only for young people, advanced people. They said that offline definitely should be and digital might be a good option.

But what we have now: the war has shown that offline may not exist physically. TsNAP may be destroyed, the territory may be occupied, and services may not be available at all. And then the mobile application can be the only way of any communication with a person, delivery of documents and services to him,
– says Mstislav Banik.

This has drastically changed the approach and assessment of this aspect, as it has become a mandatory component from an option.