Microsoft, AWS awarded Ukraine peace prize for cloudy services

Google has one already, and Ukraine now has a ‘drone army’

Ukraine has awarded Microsoft and Amazon Web Services the national peace prize, with AWS winning the award for a cloud migration project.

Google was awarded the same prize in May for unspecified efforts.. Ukraine’s vice prime minister and minister of digital transformation gave one to Microsoft last Monday, again without specifying the reason for the award.

Big tech support Ukraine. @Microsoft delegation has been awarded today with "Peace Prize" from the President of Ukraine @ZelenskyyUa. We are grateful to have you on the light side of digital. Microsoft stands for truth and for peace. pic.twitter.com/2usvKERr7m

— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) July 4, 2022

But Fedorov explained AWS’ contribution as follows:

One more Peace Prize by @ZelenskyyUa comes to @awscloud. Amazon AWS literally saved our digital infrastructure — state registries and critical databases migrated to AWS cloud environment. Ready to cooperate on gov tech solutions and reform judicial sphere radically. @liammax pic.twitter.com/3OwbJiZ0hv

— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) July 6, 2022

AWS has previously detailed its efforts to deploy its Snowball data-shifting appliances to Ukraine in the early days of Russia’s illegal invasion. The cloud colossus said it was aware of 61 data migration projects in Ukraine at the time, “with more expected to come”.

Fedorov also announced Ukraine’s “Dronation” program, which invites donations of cash or drones to be used in Ukraine’s defense, has proven a hit. Launched last Friday, the program has seen “dozens” of drones donated and arrive in Ukrainian warehouses, while cash donations of around $6.8 million have been spent on a pair of Warmate “loitering munitions” that are suggested as a potent alternative to anti-tank weapons.

Even crypto outfits are helping Ukraine, with exchange Binance providing a tech education curriculum for Ukrainians. ®