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KI Insights

KI Insights is a strategic intelligence unit backed by the Kyiv Independent that provides an analytical subscription package and commercial research services. A subscription includes weekly updates, a comprehensive research library, exclusive events, and custom data requests. Whether navigating Ukraine's political landscape or exploring business opportunities, KI Insights equips you with the knowledge to stay ahead.

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U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (left) and U.S. businessman Jared Kushner (center) in Davos on January 19, 2026.

Key Ukraine events (13-19 April): Easter ceasefire, security agreements with Gulf countries

by KI Insights
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, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. The week ahead will be shaped by uncertainty around a proposed Easter ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Diplomatic activity may intensify, including a potential visit of U.S. envoys to Kyiv. At the same

Lessons learned from Ukrainian Defense, Industry, & Innovation — event from KI Insights

by KI Insights
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

Event: Understanding Ukraine's fiscal challenges in 2026

by KI Insights
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

Ukraine’s Next Elections: Preparations, Politics, and Pitfalls — next KI Insights monthly briefing

by KI Insights
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 battlefield update: Strategic, operational, and defense technology shifts — next KI Insights monthly briefing

by KI Insights
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

Ukraine’s mobilization crisis: Challenges, needs, and implications for 2026 — next KI Insights monthly briefing

by KI Insights
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

What Are Ukraine’s 2026 Scenarios? Exclusive briefing by KI Insights

by KI Insights
As Ukraine approaches a decisive political and strategic crossroads, questions about the country’s possible trajectories in 2026 are becoming increasingly urgent. What scenarios might shape Ukraine’s future, and how could domestic, military, and international factors interact in the year ahead? Join an exclusive KI Insights briefing exploring the key pathways Ukraine could take in 2026, featuring in-depth analysis and forward-looking assessments to help make sense of the rapidly evolving landsc

Ukraine battlefield update: Frontline situation ahead of winter — Next KI Insights monthly briefing

by KI Insights
As winter approaches, Ukraine’s armed forces face mounting challenges along the front. What are the key dynamics shaping the battlefield, and how might they evolve in the coming months? Join an exclusive KI Insights briefing featuring expert guest Rob Lee, who will share firsthand observations from his recent trip to the frontlines and provide expert analysis on the military outlook. Format: Online, in English. The event will include a presentation by KI Insights and an in-depth discussion wit

Where Are Ukraine’s Oligarchs Now? Power, Projects, and Political Futures

by KI Insights
Once the country’s kingmakers, Ukraine’s oligarchs have seen their fortunes and influence curtailed by war, sanctions, and political reform. Yet they remain far from irrelevant. This KI Insights briefing, drawing on original analysis by political expert Anatoliy Oktysiuk, explores where Ukraine’s major oligarchs stand today – financially, politically, and geographically – and examines how they may seek to re-enter political life as the landscape evolves. Format: Online, in English. The event w

Ukraine-Russia peace talks: Shifting power dynamics and political competition amid the settlement process — exclusive briefing by KI Insights

by KI Insights
Update: Browse the briefing presentation here. KI Insights subscribers can also access the recording. Join KI Insights for a closed-door briefing, where our analysts will map out the political landscape, assess the peace negotiations status, and explore what domestic and international stakeholders should expect in the months ahead. Event details: Date: Monday, September 22. Time: 16:00. Expected duration – 1 hour 30 minutes. Format: In-person, central Kyiv. For security reasons, the locatio

Inside the US–Ukraine–Russia talks: Exclusive KI Insights Q&A

by KI Insights
Update: Browse the briefing presentation here. KI Insights subscribers can also access the recording. Amid extraordinary developments in US–Ukraine–Russia negotiations, KI Insights is hosting a closed-door online Q&A session. You’ll gain a sharper picture of the peace talks ahead, including the agendas each of the sides will bring, the dynamics to watch and frank answers to your toughest questions. Format: Online, in English. The event will include a short, real-time analysis and candid Q&A s

Inside Ukraine’s media: Political role, donor cuts, and pressures from power — exclusive briefing by KI Insights

by KI Insights
Update: Browse the briefing presentation here. KI Insights subscribers can also access the recording. Ukraine’s media have long served as a critical actor in shaping the country’s political landscape — reporting from war zones, exposing corruption, and helping define national narratives. But in 2025, the sector itself is in crisis. With USAID funding ended and other international donors stretched thin, many leading publications have been forced to downsize or suspend operations. Editorial team

Inside Ukraine’s drone industry: opportunities and challenges for Western partners

by KI Insights
Update: Browse the briefing presentation here. KI Insights subscribers can also access the recording. The role and capabilities of uncrewed systems are evolving rapidly. KI Insights invites you to an exclusive off-the-record briefing on the latest technologies, tactics, and trends shaping the drone war — and the emerging opportunities for international partners and investors in this fast-growing sector. Drawing on sources ranging from the trenches of Donbas to the Presidential Office, we will

First-ever catalog on Ukraine's battlefield-proven drones, technologies, published by KI Insights and Tech Force in UA

by KI Insights
KI Insights and Tech Force in UA are proud to announce the launch of a new strategic publication: Warcrafted: The Power Behind Ukrainian Defense Tech, a first-of-its-kind catalog spotlighting Ukraine’s most innovative and battle-tested defense technologies. Unmanned systems have been a decisive factor in Ukraine’s defense, enabling the country to repel what was once considered the world’s second-most powerful army. Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces — the first of their kind globally — are not o

Ukraine's front-line pressure and risks of Russia's summer offensive

by KI Insights
Update: Browse the briefing presentation here. KI Insights subscribers can also access the recording. As Ukraine braces for an intensified Russian offensive, KI Insights invites you to an exclusive off-the-record briefing on the latest battlefield dynamics, military challenges, and Kyiv's evolving strategic outlook. Drawing from sources spanning the trenches of Donbas to the Presidential Office, we'll analyze the shifting threat landscape and its implications for Ukraine’s defenses, Western su