Defence Innovation & InfrastructureForum 2026

Frontline Drone Operations: Lessons for Innovation and Deployment

The Army and Navy Club · Washington, D.C., United States · October 2025

A closed-door discussion with the Institute for the Study of War brought together Snake Island Institute representatives, active-duty Ukrainian service members from drone and unmanned-systems units, and a specialist Washington audience. The session examined frontline tactics and combat-proven drone operations, highlighting the soldier-to-producer feedback loop: field use, rapid fixes and redeployment so capability can keep pace with battlefield change.

Partner role: Co-organized by Snake Island Institute and the Institute for the Study of War

Air Defense in the Drone Age: Lessons from Ukraine

Washington, D.C., United States · 25 March 2026

A Washington conference translating Ukraine’s operational air-defence experience into lessons for U.S. policymakers and defence practitioners. Ukrainian military professionals addressed missile and drone threats, adaptation and battlefield-driven innovation.

Partner role: Co-organized by Snake Island Institute and With Honor

Frontline Futures: Ukrainian Defence Tech Innovation and the New Era of Warfare

Georgetown University · Washington, D.C., United States · October–November 2025

Snake Island Institute presented Ukraine’s frontline defence-technology experience to students and faculty at Georgetown University. The discussion explored how rapid battlefield adaptation, unmanned systems and operational feedback are reshaping innovation and the wider character of modern warfare.

Partner role: Presented by Snake Island Institute

Defending the Skies: Ukraine’s Lessons for Allies

New York, United States · 31 March 2026

A New York discussion based on the Holding Back the Sky report, focused on Ukraine’s experience countering missile and drone threats. Active-duty Ukrainian personnel and allied security experts translated combat lessons into guidance for allied air and infrastructure defence.

Partner role: Co-organized by Snake Island Institute

Drone Warfare and European Security

Munich, Germany · February 2026

An official Munich Security Conference side-event panel examining how unmanned systems and battlefield innovation are changing warfare, procurement, deterrence and Europe’s security architecture. The discussion connected Ukrainian defence-technology expertise to a leading transatlantic security forum.

Partner role: With participation from Snake Island Institute

Event image from the Snake Island Institute activity page; reuse rights to be confirmed.

Readiness 2030: New Framework for Ukrainian-European Partnership

Brussels, Belgium · 21 May 2025

A European Parliament conference on using Ukraine’s wartime experience to strengthen European defence cooperation, investment and resilience. Cross-party policymakers, Ukrainian experts and defence-industry leaders considered practical pathways for Ukraine–EU security cooperation.

Partner role: Co-organized by We Build Ukraine

ERGO Global Flashpoint Roundtable

The Metropolitan Club · New York City, United States · 29 October 2025

A private international roundtable in New York examining Ukraine as a global geopolitical and infrastructure flashpoint. Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraine’s Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development from 2021 to 2024, contributed practical experience from wartime infrastructure management, recovery planning and international cooperation.

Partner role: With participation from Snake Island Institute

Strike UGV Crash Test: Engineering Under Fire

Ukraine · October 2025

A practical evaluation programme for strike unmanned ground vehicles under operationally relevant stress. The programme is a direct example of structured field testing focused on reliability, defence engineering and product validation.

Partner role: Organized by Snake Island Institute

Operational-security and product-identification restrictions must be checked before publication.

Forum of Strike UGVs: Bridging the Frontline and Innovation

Lviv, Ukraine · August 2025

A focused forum connecting Ukrainian frontline personnel with developers and manufacturers of strike unmanned ground vehicles. It established a practical precedent for structured dialogue between operational users and technology teams.

Partner role: Organized by Snake Island Institute

Joint Ventures in the Defense Industry

Kyiv, Ukraine · July 2026

A practical discussion on combining Ukrainian technology and combat expertise with foreign capital, production, certification and access to global markets. Participants addressed joint ventures, intellectual property, export controls, investment screening and financing.

Partner role: Co-organized by We Build Ukraine