{"id":14643,"date":"2025-11-03T11:29:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T09:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/?post_type=insights&#038;p=14643"},"modified":"2025-11-13T16:50:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T14:50:40","slug":"zmiyar-feature-story","status":"publish","type":"insights","link":"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/en\/insights\/zmiyar-feature-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Turning ordinary mines into smart ones: What Victor Shapovalov\u2019s startup ZMIYAR is working on"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Victor Shapovalov built a successful business manufacturing initiation boards for drones \u2014 he sells thousands of such units each month. He decided not to stop there. ZMIYAR&#8217;s next product enables even old Soviet mines to be made smart \u2014 and allows for the remote control of minefields.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Experts say this solution is very much needed at the front. However, for the project to succeed, several significant challenges must be overcome, funding secured, and military support obtained. Defender Media spoke with Shapovalov, his manufacturer clients, military users, and potential investors.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How ZMIYAR began<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shapovalov comes from Ajax Systems. After the full-scale invasion began, he started volunteering alongside his work. At the dawn of the FPV-drone era, military acquaintances approached him with a request: initiation boards (electronic modules responsible for activating a warhead) were needed. His technical background and product experience allowed Victor to assemble the requirements for such devices. Then he visited other military units to check if the need was widespread. Everywhere he heard: \u201cYes, very much needed, do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2023, Shapovalov gathered a classic hardware development team: an embedded developer, a hardware developer, a mechanical designer who designs cases, and a military expert who helps validate hypotheses. Shapovalov, as product manager and founder, brought it all together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All team members started part-time alongside their main jobs. Soon, it became clear that the project was \u201ctaking off\u201d \u2014 and the entire team switched to full-time work in the startup. Today, the ZMIYAR R&amp;D team counts six people, and Shapovalov plans to expand it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/en\/insights\/tank-bureau-feature-story\/\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong> From amusement rides to battlefield robots: The story of Tank Bureau<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ZMIYAR boards are manufactured at another enterprise under contract. However, at the start of the year, the company received a 2 million UAH grant from the Brave1 state defence tech cluster. With these funds, Shapovalov purchased equipment that allows faster and improved R&amp;D \u2014 now the project can rapidly make prototypes and small series without outsourcing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The chief engineer of the Ukrainian drone manufacturer Sky Force (asked not to be named for security reasons) said he is delighted with the cooperation with Shapovalov. The company produces up to five thousand drones a month, and all units are equipped with initiation boards from ZMIYAR. Sky Force values not only the product but the founder\u2019s attitude. In particular, he always attended Sky Force\u2019s codification tests \u2013 and helped the manufacturer significantly at that stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"734\" src=\"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/lfupw6vutgzvjqpqxx2a-1024x734.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14600\" srcset=\"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/lfupw6vutgzvjqpqxx2a-1024x734.webp 1024w, http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/lfupw6vutgzvjqpqxx2a-300x215.webp 300w, http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/lfupw6vutgzvjqpqxx2a-768x550.webp 768w, http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/lfupw6vutgzvjqpqxx2a.webp 1398w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sky Force&#8217;s FPV drone ZEUS with initiation board from ZMIYAR \/ Screenshot from manufacturer&#8217;s website<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Military users also speak highly of Shapovalov\u2019s company products. The commander of the UAS company of the 1st Infantry Battalion of the International Defence Legion of Ukraine, with the call sign Ratl, states that his fighters have utilised the ZMIYAR MIB initiation board in combat conditions for over a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One key advantage of the device he cites is ease of use. \u201cConsidering that foreigners serve in the unit, it was important to find a solution that does not require complex training. With this board, the soldier\u2019s preparation time is minimal \u2014 training passes very quickly, and connection is completed in under a minute,\u201d says the commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to him, in more than a year of use, there has been no case of failure, and the cost of the device is adequate compared with alternatives from other manufacturers. \u201cIn terms of price, functionality and reliability \u2014 this is one of the best options on the market,\u201d concludes Ratl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shapovalov is trying to bring ZMIYAR\u2019s core business into new niches. Previously, the company made initiation boards only for FPV drones, and now there are integrations with UGV kamikazes and interceptor drones. Next in line: boards for the fixed-wing UAVs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>From sky \u2014 to ground<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shapovalov decided to scale the business not only with new boards. His main goal is to disrupt an entirely new market, utilising essentially the same modules but adapting them to new tasks. If the war in the sky has already turned into full high-tech, on the ground, in many ways, old-school still dominates. In particular, this concerns minefields, where Soviet TM-mines and their analogues are still used against military equipment. This causes a whole set of problems \u2014 and ZMIYAR has taken on solving them. The startup\u2019s new product: smart fuzes for mines and a comprehensive minefield management system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first problem this new ZMIYAR product addresses \u2014 the inability to control the old mines. After installation, anti-vehicle and anti-tank mines mostly live their own life. Shapovalov explains that after a minefield with TM-mines is emplaced, commanders often place a man with binoculars to watch what happens on the minefield. At night, enemy infantry can approach and disassemble mines that trigger only on heavy equipment. However, as the kill zone expands, keeping a man with binoculars by the minefield becomes increasingly unrealistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is why ZMIYAR set out to create a system that allows ordinary mines to become smart. For this, the old fuze in the TM-mine is replaced by the Shapovalov team\u2019s device. ZMIYAR fuzes send a signal to a base station, which controls the mine\u2019s status, allowing remote detonation or deactivation. \u201cSensors in the fuze detect any changes and transmit this to the base station,\u201d explains Shapovalov. If friendly vehicles need to cross a minefield, the relevant sector can just be switched off via the base station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/gi5xmko60l9v1thbbxte-1-1024x768.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14610\" srcset=\"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/gi5xmko60l9v1thbbxte-1-1024x768.webp 1024w, http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/gi5xmko60l9v1thbbxte-1-300x225.webp 300w, http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/gi5xmko60l9v1thbbxte-1-768x576.webp 768w, http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/gi5xmko60l9v1thbbxte-1.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A ZMIYAR base station in front of a mine equipped with a smart fuze. One such station can control up to 200 mines \/ Photo from Shapovalov\u2019s personal archive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another problem the development addresses \u2014 mapping minefields. With the advent of Delta and Kropyva systems, the issue has begun to be solved, but according to Shapovalov, many units still mark minefields with crosses on Google Maps printouts. \u201cThen this picture is passed to units fighting nearby or moving into the sector,\u201d says the entrepreneur. \u201cThe accuracy is nothing, there is no question of control.\u201d ZMIYAR\u2019s smart fuzes, connected to the base station, allow you to view all connected mines, their status, and any significant changes on the tablet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>About the product<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ZMIYAR\u2019s minefield management and control system consists of a base station and smart fuzes inserted directly into mines. One base station can simultaneously operate about two hundred fuzes in mines. A dedicated communication network is built between them \u2014 i.e., mines aren\u2019t merely connected to the base, but also exchange signals with each other. \u201cThanks to this, we have a relay mode \u2014 the signal can pass further down the chain if a direct line is unavailable,\u201d says Shapovalov. \u201cAs a result, the entire system works stably within a radius of up to 20 km.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"1280\" src=\"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/trzjqad37qblxac8zrdu.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14617\" style=\"aspect-ratio:9\/16;object-fit:cover;width:400px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/trzjqad37qblxac8zrdu.webp 960w, http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/trzjqad37qblxac8zrdu-225x300.webp 225w, http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/trzjqad37qblxac8zrdu-768x1024.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ZMIYAR base station in front of a mine fitted with a smart fuze. One such station can control up to 200 mines \/ Photo from Shapovalov\u2019s personal archive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The base station resembles a large radio set in an aluminium case with a colour display; it is used together with a tablet on which the minefield can be monitored. On the screen, the project team implemented simple animations. \u201cWe tried to make the product not only functional but also pleasant to use, because it matters for the military,\u201d says Shapovalov. For the same reason, the keys on the base-station change colour depending on the mode, the display information changes, and event alerts appear. This allows the operator to instantly see what is happening and make decisions without unnecessary thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The system constantly monitors the network, displaying which devices are connected and which are not, and sends a message to the base station operator if an issue arises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The price for a kit consisting of the base-station and three fuzes is approximately $3,500. \u201cEach additional fuze alone will cost about $100; we\u2019re finalising the exact figure,\u201d says Shapovalov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to him, the system has already passed field tests. Ahead are combat trials \u2013 for which ZMIYAR has already agreements with the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project founder understands the trials will expose problem areas of the product and that challenges will have to be faced. The first is clear \u2014 enemy electronic warfare tools that can impair the system\u2019s functionality. Already, the system uses non-standard frequencies, and soon Shapovalov plans to add a frequency-hopping function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The development enables not only intelligent mine emplacement and control, but also more efficient demining. The startup hopes that the products from ZMIYAR will elevate the engineering troops of the Defence Forces to a qualitatively new level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>On money and future<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ZMIYAR has already succeeded as a producer of initiation boards for UAVs \u2013 and has good prospects in the smart mining and demining niche. \u201cWithout going into too many details, I\u2019ll say their new product is currently very relevant on the battlefield,\u201d says Alina Lovchynovska, Managing Partner at MITS Accelerator &amp; Operations Manager at MITS Capital.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"923\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/vegy5rwzjx0x4l5cm0q6-923x1024.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14694\" style=\"width:400px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/vegy5rwzjx0x4l5cm0q6-923x1024.webp 923w, http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/vegy5rwzjx0x4l5cm0q6-270x300.webp 270w, http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/vegy5rwzjx0x4l5cm0q6-768x852.webp 768w, http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/vegy5rwzjx0x4l5cm0q6.webp 1312w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 923px) 100vw, 923px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shapovalov&#8217;s pitch at the IT Arena 2025 \/ Photo from ZMIYAR LinkedIn page<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She adds that the company has long known the ZMIYAR team and has followed their development since their participation in the Defense Tech Bootcamp that MITS ran with Victory Drones. \u201cOne of their strengths is expertise and experience, because the team already has several successful and efficient frontline solutions,\u201d says Lovchynovska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, Shapovalov successfully attended IT Arena 2025. Firstly, he secured interest from MITS, receiving, together with four other startups, a soft commitment to participate in the MITS Accelerator. Graduates of the accelerator receive $200,000, with half as direct investment and the rest as services. At the time of publication, MITS had not yet announced the final list of accelerator participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are other investors considering putting money and expertise into ZMIYAR. European funds, including Wolver Ventures and New Frontier Fund, also announced plans to invest $200,000 in the company at IT Arena 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While investors consider their options, Shapovalov and his partners continue to self-fund further development. \u2018The company is profitable, and we\u2019re funnelling sales revenue into R&amp;D,\u2019 says the entrepreneur. However, funds will still be needed to scale the product, so Shapovalov aims to raise about $450,000. He admits that time for fundraising is scarce \u2014 at ZMIYAR, the product roadmap and operational challenges keep him busy, and a sizable portion of the founder\u2019s time is taken up by participation in events where the company has been increasingly visible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Defender Media spoke with the entrepreneur, his manufacturer clients, military users, and potential investors<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14593,"template":"","tags":[344,1526,229,1525,1418],"class_list":["post-14643","insights","type-insights","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-demining","tag-smart-mining","tag-startups","tag-viktor-shapovalov","tag-zmiyar","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>This startup turns ordinary mines into smart ones: story of ZMIYAR<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" 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