Defending the Skies: Ukraine’s Lessons for Allies

​The Snake Island Institute (SII) will convene a high-level discussion in New York City on the operational lessons emerging from Ukraine’s air defense experience during the ongoing war. The event will present findings from SII’s report Holding Back the Sky and feature insight from active-duty Ukrainian air defense personnel with experience defending against Russia’s mass drone and missile attacks.

​Forced to defend against waves of Russian missiles and Iranian-style drones, Ukraine has become the most intensive real-world testing ground for modern air defense. Ukraine’s experience offers critical insights for the United States and its allies as they prepare for increasingly complex aerial threats. 

​The event is organized with the support of the Ukrainian Institute of America.

​Agenda:

​6 PM — Arrival and informal networking


​6:20 PM — Opening remarks

​6:30 PM — Holding Back the Sky report presentation by Catarina Buchatskiy, Director of Analytics, SII

​6:45 PM — Panel discussion, moderated by David Bonfili, Managing Partner, Tactical Ventures LLC

• ​Senior Lieutenant Oleksandr Vorobiev – Deputy Chief of Air Defense, 3rd Army Corps, Armed Forces of Ukraine

• ​Captain Maksym Maslii – Deputy Chief of Staff, 96th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, Ukrainian Air Force

• ​Viktoriia Honcharuk – Director of Defense Tech, SII

​7:45 - 8:30 PM — Networking reception with light refreshments and beverages