KI Insights

Ukraine is currently undergoing a deep political crisis, fuelled by seemingly endless corruption investigations into the country's top leadership, the emergence of radical nationalist forces, and a rising popular backlash to both mobilization and government policy overall. Our upcoming briefing will focus on the following questions: * What is the real state of the "elections debate" started by ex-Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov? * What can we learn from the emergence of right-wing parties,

This autumn will be critical for Ukraine. Front-line pressures, Russian aerial bombardment, and rapid turnover at the top of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are combining to create a confused and uncertain picture for military analysts. Russian forces appear closer than ever before to seizing the remaining settlements of the Donbas, but a final conquest of the so-called fortress belt will still take time, resources, and sap the initiative of Russian units in other secondary sectors. Ukraine will al

KI Insights invites you to take part in a special summer briefing that will depart from our standard content to examine contemporary Ukrainian soft power and cultural exports. Ukraine's contribution to the creative arts is not limited to Shevchenko's poetry or Parajanov's film. It is a live (and lucrative) sector in the country which spans fashion, music, and more recently, gaming. Please join our Director, Jakub Parusinski, and a special guest to discuss: * How does Ukrainian art and creati

U.S.-mediated talks since last year have failed to deliver results. Both Russia and Ukraine have intensified their strike campaigns, notably against the capitals of both countries. However, this doesn't mark the end of diplomacy. Ukraine, in particular, is seeking to leverage its battlefield advantage into a deal – potentially even this year. This private briefing will explore the following questions: * Who is actually driving Ukraine's negotiating strategy, what factors are driving their thi

KI Insights is coming to the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk! Join us at a networking event on the eve of URC, on June 24, 2026. We will be hosting a discussion on the new power mapping of Ukraine and the key roadblocks to reform. The briefing will feature exclusive insights and research from across our research programs. It will cover how key political risks in Ukraine, the EU reform trajectory, and the military situation are viewed from Kyiv. The event will be followed by a historical

Mobilization has consistently been one of the weakest elements of Ukraine's military response to Russia's full-scale invasion. The system is widely hated by the public, plagued by corruption, and has often failed to meet targets needed to ensure the country's defense. Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has proposed bold new plans to reform the system, but is facing opposition from within the military and Ukraine's top leadership. This private briefing will explore the following questions: * Wh

KI Insights is planning to expand coverage of Russian political and economic issues. The current briefing is aimed to be the first in a series. If you are interested in learning more or would be open to supporting this direction of work, please contact us at insights@kyivindependent.com. Russia's legislative elections are just 4 months away. Years of full-scale war are increasingly being felt, presenting a challenge to domestic political and socio-economic stability. However, those dynamics are

Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions are facing their most consequential test since the full-scale invasion. What began in November 2025 as NABU's Operation Midas, a sprawling $100 million kickback scheme at state nuclear energy company Energoatom, has since evolved into Ukraine's largest corruption scandal of the wartime period, drawing in former ministers, the ex-chief of staff to President Zelensky, and now the current Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. NABU wiretap tr

KI Insights and Tech Force in UA are proud to present the updated edition of their strategic publication: Warcrafted: The Power Behind Ukrainian Defense Tech — a catalog spotlighting Ukraine's most innovative and battle-tested defense technologies. Produced by the Tech Force in UA (TFUA), the powerful voice of Ukraine's defense tech industry, together with KI Insights, this catalog showcases verified flagship products developed by TFUA member companies. It serves as a strategic tool to promote

Editor's note: This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights' public newsletter. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every Friday. The Week Ahead Podcast is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Parliament returns from recess with protests over the vacant defence ministry set to re-intensify. Lawmakers’ agenda will be dominated by the Customs Code, tied to the next EU loan tranche. Witkoff and Kushner are exp

Why are Ukrainian drones proving so effective on the battlefield? Can this experience be replicated elsewhere — particularly in the Gulf? And where are the real opportunities for investors in this rapidly evolving ecosystem? As war in the Middle East reshapes global threat perceptions and procurement priorities, attention is increasingly turning to Ukraine — not just as a battlefield, but as a leading producer and testing ground for cost-effective, rapidly deployable defense technologies. Ukrai

Ukraine started 2026 with a sigh of relief. Positive news on debt restructuring, IMF aid disbursement, bumper foreign exchange reserves, and most importantly, a last-minute compromise €90 bn loan from the EU, suggested that Kyiv would have a moment to catch its breath. Three months on, and this optimism is firmly in the rearview mirror. Hungarian and Slovakian obstruction has derailed progress on loan disbursement, reforms needed for unlocking critical multilateral institution financing remain

Political competition in Ukraine is back with a vengeance. After a gradual thawing over the past 18 months, the events of the first two months of 2026 have confirmed that the relatively long-lasting freeze at the beginning of the full-scale invasion is over. Despite this resumption of political competition, elections seem perpetually three-six months ahead as peace negotiations prove unsuccessful. Join our Senior Political Analyst, Anatoliy Oktysiuk, and Director, Jakub Parusinski, as we discus

Ukraine’s armed forces face mounting challenges along the southern and eastern fronts, where new technology, tactical shifts, force regeneration, and resource constraints are reshaping the battlefield. What are the key dynamics driving current operations, and how might they evolve in the months ahead? Join an exclusive KI Insights briefing with our defense analyst Mykolaj Suchy, who has recently returned from a trip to Ukraine’s southern and eastern frontlines. He will share firsthand observati

As Ukraine enters 2026, mobilization has emerged as one of the most decisive challenges shaping the country’s military resilience and political stability. Where is the mobilization system under the greatest strain, how will recent personnel changes at the top of Ukraine’s security apparatus impact policy, and what can mobilization realistically deliver in the year ahead? Join KI Insights for our January monthly briefing, focused on Ukraine’s mobilization challenge. The discussion will move beyo