Ukraine Insights

Ukraine is facing a new wave of corruption investigations, growing pressure on President Zelensky, and another difficult winter. Meanwhile, Trump and Putin are discussing a potential peace deal that could reshape Europe's security. Jakub Parusinski and KI Insights political researcher Anatoliy Oktysiuk discuss Operation Carthage, Ukraine's political challenges, Russia's demands, and wh...

Russia has repeatedly threatened nuclear escalation since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But how effective is Moscow’s nuclear blackmail, and why are some European countries more willing to stand up to it than others? In this episode of Ukraine Insights, host Alex Fynn speaks with EPIK fellow, Lesia Bidochko about how Russia’s nuclear threats have influenced Western military aid, wh...

Could Trump and Putin reach an agreement that leaves Ukraine with little say in its own future? In this episode of Ukraine Insights, host Jakub Parusinski speaks with KI Insights research analyst Anatolii Oktysiuk about growing pressure on Kyiv, the prospects for peace negotiations, and the risks of renewed US-Russia economic cooperation. They discuss China's potential role in negotiations, th...

How has Russian propaganda changed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine? In this episode of Ukraine Insights, host Alex Fynn speaks with Alesia Rudnik, PhD, researcher in politics & technology, about the Kremlin's evolving propaganda strategy, its growing use of digital platforms, and efforts to influence audiences inside and outside Russia. They also discuss the challenges facing inde...

Donald Trump's controversial diesel deal with Vladimir Putin has raised new questions about US sanctions on Russia and Washington's commitment to Ukraine. In this episode of Ukraine Insights, Sir Bill Browder explains why he believes the deal could benefit Putin, how Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries are putting pressure on Moscow, and why existing Western sanctions have fail...

Welcome to Ukraine’s Week Ahead, a weekly briefing by KI Insights on the key political, security, and diplomatic developments in Ukraine to watch in the coming days. Each episode highlights upcoming events, policy decisions, and international developments shaping Ukraine and the Russia–Ukraine war. #Ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #UkraineAnalysis Upcoming events:  12–13 October, Warsaw, Poland. Warsaw...

Welcome to Ukraine’s Week Ahead, a weekly briefing by KI Insights on the key political, security, and diplomatic developments in Ukraine to watch in the coming days. Each episode highlights upcoming events, policy decisions, and international developments shaping Ukraine and the Russia–Ukraine war. #Ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #UkraineAnalysis Upcoming events:  7 October , Online, in Ukrainian. CES...

Electronic warfare has become one of the defining contests of Russia’s war against Ukraine. KI Insights Research Editor Alex Fynn speaks with electronic warfare expert Dr Thomas Withington about how Russia uses the electromagnetic spectrum, why GPS jamming threatens precision weapons, how difficult Starlink is to disrupt, and what autonomous drones could mean for traditional jamming. The discussio...

Ukraine is heading into a winter that could test its economy, energy system and political stability at the same time. KI Insights research analyst Anatolii Oktysiuk joins host Jakub Parusinski to examine Ukraine’s growing budget pressures, Russian attacks on the economy, tensions over anti-corruption reforms, shifting public sentiment and what could shape the next phase of the war. Follow us on so...

Welcome to Ukraine’s Week Ahead, a weekly briefing by KI Insights on the key political, security, and diplomatic developments in Ukraine to watch in the coming days. Each episode highlights upcoming events, policy decisions, and international developments shaping Ukraine and the Russia–Ukraine war. #Ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #UkraineAnalysis Upcoming events:  24 September, Online. "Ukraine&#3...

What would make a peace deal with Russia durable rather than simply a pause before another war? Thornike Gordadze examines the risks of a “cheap peace” for Ukraine, the limits of security guarantees, and why strengthening Ukraine’s own defence capacity may be crucial. Drawing on Georgia’s experience, he also discusses negotiations with Moscow, Western political fatigue, democratic resilience and t...

Welcome to Ukraine’s Week Ahead, a weekly briefing by KI Insights on the key political, security, and diplomatic developments in Ukraine to watch in the coming days. Each episode highlights upcoming events, policy decisions, and international developments shaping Ukraine and the Russia–Ukraine war. #Ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #UkraineAnalysis Upcoming events:  15 September. Online event: Donbas, Dr...

What is still holding foreign investment back in Ukraine — and where are the biggest opportunities? In this episode of Ukraine Insights , host Alex Fynn speaks with Anka Feldhusen, Ukraine’s Business Ombudsman and former German Ambassador to Kyiv, about Ukraine’s investment climate, tax and regulatory challenges, energy opportunities, EU accession and reconstruction. They also discuss why investor...

Welcome to Ukraine’s Week Ahead, a weekly briefing by KI Insights on the key political, security, and diplomatic developments in Ukraine to watch in the coming days. Each episode highlights upcoming events, policy decisions, and international developments shaping Ukraine and the Russia–Ukraine war. #Ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #UkraineAnalysis Upcoming events:  8 September, London. Hybrid event: Wha...

Poland and Ukraine built one of Europe’s closest wartime partnerships after Russia’s full-scale invasion, but that relationship is now under growing pressure. Dr. Daniel Szeligowski explains why ties have reached their lowest point in decades, how historical disputes and changing Polish attitudes are reshaping the debate, and why Warsaw and Kyiv may ultimately move toward a more pragmatic, transac...

Ukraine’s wartime politics are entering a more volatile phase. Mykhailo Fedorov is pushing for a debate on elections, while new anti-corruption investigations increase pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his inner circle. In this episode of Ukraine Insights, KI Insights political analyst Anatolii Oktysiuk joins Jakub Parusinski to discuss Fedorov’s political ambitions, whether Ukraine co...

Volodymyr Zelensky’s first presidential visit to Belgrade puts Serbia’s balancing act under a new spotlight. In this episode of Ukraine Insights Dr. Vuk Vuksanović, examines the reasons behind Ukraine and Serbia diplomatic blitz, and what that means for Belgrade's relationship with Moscow. He explains why Serbian ammunition likely still reaches Kyiv through third parties, what domestic protest...

Welcome to Ukraine’s Week Ahead, a weekly briefing by KI Insights on the key political, security, and diplomatic developments in Ukraine to watch in the coming days. Each episode highlights upcoming events, policy decisions, and international developments shaping Ukraine and the Russia–Ukraine war. #Ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #UkraineAnalysis Upcoming events:  20 August. Online event: The sea under...

Ukraine’s battlefield is changing as drones reach farther, glide bombs threaten cities deeper behind the front, and movement becomes increasingly dangerous. This episode with KI Insights analyst Mykolaj Suchy examines deteriorating conditions in frontline cities, the role of terrain in FPV operations, Russia’s costly infiltration tactics, Ukraine’s growing use of ground robots, and how mid-range s...

Welcome to Ukraine’s Week Ahead, a weekly briefing by KI Insights on the key political, security, and diplomatic developments in Ukraine to watch in the coming days. Each episode highlights upcoming events, policy decisions, and international developments shaping Ukraine and the Russia–Ukraine war. #Ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #UkraineAnalysis Upcoming events:  12 August, Kyiv/Online, in Ukrainian....

Ukraine has transformed drones from improvised battlefield tools into central components of modern warfare—but their dominance may be temporary. Military analyst, open-source intelligence expert and disinformation specialist Ryan McBeth explains how counter-drone technology could reshape the battlefield, why mortars and artillery still matter, where naval drones reach their limits, and how Russia...

Welcome to Ukraine’s Week Ahead, a weekly briefing by KI Insights on the key political, security, and diplomatic developments in Ukraine to watch in the coming days. Each episode highlights upcoming events, policy decisions, and international developments shaping Ukraine and the Russia–Ukraine war. #Ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #UkraineAnalysis Upcoming events:  5 August. Online event: 2026 Macroecon...

Russia’s relationship with its neighbours has evolved from uneasy dominance into open aggression—but was this outcome inevitable? Russia expert James Nixey(Acting Head of Research at SCEEUS and EPIK) explains what meeting Vladimir Putin revealed, why Western engagement failed, and how Moscow’s refusal to recognise its neighbours as sovereign states led to war. The episode also examines Ukrainian v...

Four years into the full-scale war, Ukraine's health system has cut the number of people needing emergency support from 12 million to 1.5 million. Yet challenges keep evolving: worker shortages, damaged facilities, and rising chronic disease among frontline residents. WHO Ukraine Representative Dr. Jarno Habicht explains how the country adapts every few months, what personal resilience looks l...

Ukraine’s next elections are already shaping political debate, despite there being no confirmed date. In this episode Alex Fynn and Jakub Parusinski examines whether elections could realistically happen soon, the challenges of organizing voting after years of war and displacement, and how potential candidates such as Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Kyrylo Budanov may position themselves...