“One of the greatest lies we tell ourselves is that everybody wants the truth.”
— Peter Pomerantsev
In the latest Ukraine Insights episode, @peterpomerantsev.bsky.social reflects on why propaganda works even when people know it’s false.
▶️ Watch the full episode ↓
youtu.be/SIawlg2fSKI
Exceptional overview of the dynamics of disinformation in our increasingly fact-free world by @peterpomerantsev.bsky.social at @ki-insights.bsky.social
Check it out and take a break from worrying about Iran (and worry about something else) 🙃
open.spotify.com/episode/3W0V...
📅 Upcoming events:
"Ukraine’s next elections: Preparations, Politics, and Pitfalls." KI Insights monthly briefing, where Senior Political Analyst, Anatoliy Oktysiuk& @jakubparusinski.bsky.social will discuss Ukraine’s push for elections
🔒Subscribers only.
🔗Register here: zoom.us/webinar/regi...
11/🧵
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/20er...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Youtube: youtu.be/U1uI0Dw-TCI?...
#RussiaUkraineWar #Geopolitics #NATOSecurity
“Let’s reinforce our presence to give Russia a clear signal that we will not allow aggression” President Petr Pavel
I spoke with President Pavel about realistic ceasefire scenarios, sustained pressure on Russia, and Ukraine’s place in the EU and ultimately NATO.
Links below:
In our latest episode, KI Insights Director
@jakubparusinski.bsky.social & Senior Political Analyst Anatoliy Oktysiuk unpack what went wrong over four years of war, & whether the newest leadership reshuffle signals a move from reactive crisis management to long-term strategy.
The case of Vladyslav #Heraskevych underscores the deep politicization of sport
Hockey legend Dominik Hašek spoke to @ki-insights.bsky.social about the IOC’s double standards toward 🇺🇦 athletes and how sport is being used to normalize 🇷🇺aggression
youtu.be/5tcQVVQwTLA?...
🌍If territorial red lines shift in #Greenland, they shift everywhere
From Crimea to #Donbas, precedents matter. In our latest episode, KI Insights director @jakubparusinski.bsky.social
& Anatoliy Oktysiuk explore how erosion of international norms carries consequences far beyond any single crisis👇
Coercive mobilization fuels social tensions and anti-UA propaganda, making it a target for RU intelligence Ops
But in a rare piece of good news, it seems mobilization linked violence/ terrorism actually declined in 2025
See the @ki-insights.bsky.social report: kyivindependent.com/what-the-dat...
In which I float that the media sector consolidating and producing a few Murdoch-like figures is the lesser evil compared to a gradual erosion of the 4th estate and @marcelakunova.bsky.social brings me back to reality with sane and thoughtful arguments 😅
In a special episode of the FixEd podcast, we’re looking back at 2025 and ahead to 2026.
The Fix’s @jakubparusinski.bsky.social and @journalismnews.bsky.social's MD @marcelakunova.bsky.social traded their takes on the good and the bad in media this past year – and their aspirations for 2026.
7/ Zelensky may choose a head for Office of the President.
Candidates include: Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov; Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal, Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia, Deputy OP head Pavlo Palisa; Ex MSI Oleksandr Kamyshin
Fedorov is the strong favourite
6/ Some government personnel changes are looming in the air: notably appointments of new Ministers of Energy and Justice (following the resignations of Hrynchuk and Halushchenko) are expected.
Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Oleksiy Kuleba is also reportedly at risk of stepping down
5/ Plenary sessions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine are scheduled for next week (Dec. 16–18). Among the key bills: a draft law on housing policy (EU requirement); renewable energy legislation; district heating; production from alternative energy sources (13219).
4/ The Council of Europe’s conference to adopt an International Claims Commission for Ukraine (Dec. 15–16). The Commission is expected to become the key legal mechanism for assessing+quantifying damages resulting from Russia’s aggression (and to be a legal pathway for victims to claim compensation)
3/ EU Foreign Affairs Council (Dec. 15).
Ministers will coordinate messaging on the US-backed peace framework amid fears Europe could be sidelined (it is). FM Andriy Sybiha is expected to videoconference in
2/ The peace plan talks of US-Ukraine-European leaders, that took place in Berlin today, will continue Monday.
The ping-pong diplomacy aims to deliver a clear plan for peace by Xmas (Trump's deadline), but is stumbling over Donbas, ZNPP + security guarantees (incl. funds) - but mostly Donbas
Negotiations continue over objections from Belgium, whose Euroclear Holding houses ~€185 bn in frozen Russian assets, to distribute risk (Moscow already sued on Friday www.ft.com/content/5d74...).
An alternative scenario would involve financing Ukraine through the EU own resources
1/ Arguably the main event is the Dec. 18–19 European Council meeting that will decide on a reparations loan backed by frozen Russian assets.
Failure = risk of running out of money by mid-2026; Success = huge boon for Zelensky to push back on Trump/ Russia (+higher chances of fighting through-2026)
Another big week ahead for Ukraine-watchers. Here's 7 things to look forward to (head over to @ki-insights.bsky.social or sign-up to The Week Ahead to stay up to date mailchi.mp/kyivindepend...)
🧵
What Are Ukraine’s 2026 Scenarios? Let’s discuss at the KI Insights in-person briefing in Kyiv!
🔗Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
#UkraineAnalysis
What trajectory will Ukraine follow next?
Join us on 5 Dec for an exclusive briefing, where KI Insights Director @jakubparusinski.bsky.social & Anatoliy Oktysiuk will help you make sense of rapidly shifting political landscape.
Subscribers only
🔗Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
In the world of doomscrolling, you have less than ten seconds to capture your audience's attention, journalist, trainer, and expert Aleksandar Manasiev warned in the second episode of the FixEd podcast.
📍 Get more insights in the full interview 👉 thefix.media/2025/09/04/f...
🎙 New Episode: Geneva talks & the NABU crisis — Has Zelensky bought time?
Our experts break down how diplomacy and the domestic scandal are colliding. 🧵
Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/0lVT...
🎧 Listen to the full episode with @jakubparusinski.bsky.social & A.Oktysiuk: open.spotify.com/episode/0lVT...
Ukraine Insights — in-depth analysis and conversations with those who know Ukraine best.
Big news from Ukraine this morning - hugely destabilizing both internally and for the peace process
#ukraine #nabu #yermak
All this unfolds as Ukraine faces one of its toughest moments yet: Russian strikes on critical energy infrastructure have caused rolling blackouts nationwide, while the front line is deteriorating with #Russia’s forces edging closer to capturing #Pokrovsk in the #Donbas.
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As a result, the Energy Minister and the Justice Minister resigned, sanctions were imposed on key figures in the case, and Energoatom’s vice president Jakob Hartmut was suspended. But public discontent won’t be so easily contained.
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The raids followed months of mounting tensions between Ukraine’s leadership and the country’s top anti-corruption bodies that peaked in July with the so-called Cardboard Maidan protests.
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