Ukraine has rolled out an innovative and controversial battlefield incentive program that rewards military units with points for destroying Russian soldiers, vehicles, and military infrastructure — allowing them to exchange battlefield “kills” for drones, weapons, and electronic warfare equipment through an online military marketplace.
The system, known as ePoints, is part of Kyiv’s broader effort to modernize warfare and maximize combat efficiency through technology and performance-based incentives. Launched in 2024, the program tracks frontline military success and enables Ukrainian units to earn points based on verified battlefield achievements.
How Ukraine’s ePoints Battlefield System Works
According to reports by The Times, Ukrainian soldiers and combat units accumulate points for inflicting damage on Russian forces. Every military action carries a different value depending on its impact.
For example, wounding a Russian soldier reportedly earns a unit eight points, while killing one grants 12 points. Higher-value targets such as tanks, artillery systems, electronic warfare assets, military shelters, and fortified enemy positions can generate significantly more rewards.
Once points are collected, Ukrainian brigades can spend them in the Brave1 defense marketplace, an online procurement platform that allows military units to acquire much-needed battlefield technology.
Available purchases reportedly include:
First-person view (FPV) drones
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
Unmanned ground vehicles
Electronic warfare systems
Advanced battlefield surveillance tools
The system effectively creates a performance-based military procurement model, where success on the battlefield directly influences access to combat resources.
‘Like Call of Duty’: Frontline Units Ranked on Leaderboards
The program has drawn comparisons to popular military video games due to its competitive structure.
Reports indicate that frontline Ukrainian units are ranked on a leaderboard system similar to the hit game Call of Duty, with brigades competing for higher standings based on combat effectiveness.
However, battlefield achievements are not automatically counted. To claim points, military units must submit mission footage and operational data for verification, ensuring that reported kills and destroyed targets are confirmed before rewards are issued.
This verification process is intended to reduce misinformation and prevent false battlefield claims.
Ukrainian Military Says the System Boosts Motivation
Supporters of the initiative argue that the ePoints system helps solve one of wartime logistics’ biggest problems — getting equipment quickly to frontline troops who need it most.
Lieutenant Colonel Denys Poliachenko, head of the Unmanned Systems Directorate of Ukraine’s 7th Corps, said the rewards system creates strong incentives for combat performance.
He explained that soldiers understand they are not only defending their country but also earning access to the tools needed to survive and fight effectively.
By directly connecting battlefield performance to military equipment, commanders can rapidly improve combat readiness without waiting for centralized procurement systems.
Ukraine’s Drone War Against Russia Intensifies
The ePoints system comes as Ukraine increasingly depends on drones as a decisive battlefield weapon.
From reconnaissance to kamikaze strikes, drones have become central to Kyiv’s military strategy, particularly as Ukraine seeks cheaper and more scalable ways to counter Russia’s larger manpower and equipment advantage.
One of the systems reportedly available through the marketplace is the Nemesis drone, which Ukrainian forces have allegedly used against Russian artillery positions, military shelters, and even naval targets in the Black Sea.
Ukraine has also expanded long-range drone operations deep into Russian territory.
Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Ukrainian drones struck the Syzran oil refinery, located more than 500 miles inside Russia, signaling Kyiv’s growing ability to target critical infrastructure far from the front line.
Ukraine Claims Russian Offensive Is Slowing
The development comes amid claims that Russian battlefield momentum may be weakening.
According to The Economist, Russian forces have reportedly experienced their first sustained territorial setbacks since October 2023, with Ukraine allegedly reclaiming nearly 189 square kilometres over a recent 30-day period.
Analysts suggest heavy battlefield losses and relentless Ukrainian drone attacks may be slowing Moscow’s offensive operations.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov recently claimed that Russia lost more than 35,000 troops killed or seriously wounded last month, while Kyiv’s strategic objective is reportedly to increase Russian monthly losses to 50,000 soldiers, a level Ukrainian officials believe could make the war unsustainable for Moscow.
A New Era of Tech-Driven Warfare?
Ukraine’s ePoints initiative highlights how modern warfare is increasingly shaped by technology, data, and decentralized decision-making.
Unlike traditional military procurement systems, where equipment distribution is controlled by senior command, Ukraine’s approach allows frontline brigade commanders to choose the tools they need most, creating a faster and potentially more flexible supply chain.
Defense technology companies are also benefiting. According to Oleg Rogynskyy, founder of defense tech company Uforce, the system gives manufacturers direct battlefield feedback on which products actually work under combat conditions.
As the Russia-Ukraine war evolves, Kyiv’s experimental battlefield economy may become a defining example of how future conflicts combine gaming-style incentives, drones, and real-time procurement systems to gain a military edge.
