Snake Island Institute presented a strategic vision for U.S.–Ukraine defense cooperation at the inaugural public event in Kyiv.
Last week, SII presented its mission and operational priorities to an audience of senior military officials, government representatives, civil society leaders, and international partners.
Established to strengthen the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States, the Institute focuses on integrating frontline experience with Western strategic frameworks to support long-term defense cooperation, capabilities development, and institutional knowledge.
SII's work is organized around three pillars: Advocacy, Analytics, and DefenseTech.
As articulated by leader of the Institute Vladyslav Sobolevskyi:
“Ukraine is not only defending its sovereignty, but also shaping the future of allied defense cooperation. Snake Island Institute works directly with key decision-makers in both Ukraine and the U.S. to develop strategic alignment, increase institutional capacity, and support battlefield innovation with a long-term vision.”
Following the presentation, a closed roundtable brought together a distinguished panel of experts and military professionals, including:
▫️ Maj. Gen. Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Chief, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (GUR)
▫️ Lt. Col. George Kuparashvili, Commander, 354th Separate Mechanized Regiment
▫️ Maj. Gen. Illia Pavlenko, former Deputy Chief, GUR
▫️ Yuriy Filatov, Head of UAV Operations, 3rd Army Corps
▫️ Stanislav Ryzhenkov, Azov Regiment, Advisor to the Mayor of Kyiv
▫️ Ihor Zbyshko, Military Medicine Expert, Council of Ukrainian Resuscitologists
▫️ Eveline Buchatskiy, Managing Partner, D3 Venture Capital Firm
▫️ Lesia Ogryzko, Director, Sahaidachnyi Security Center
▫️ Maryna Hrytsenko, Executive Director, Snake Island Institute
Key topics included the future of NATO’s role in regional security, the integration of Ukrainian DefTech into Western defense architecture, and leveraging veteran networks for transatlantic advocacy.
Insights from the event will inform a series of strategic policy recommendations developed in cooperation with Ukrainian and international stakeholders. These recommendations will support the next phase of U.S.–Ukraine defense cooperation and reinforce Ukraine’s trajectory toward full integration within the Western security community.
