Donbas, Drones, and Drapatyi's new team – next KI Insights monthly briefing

This autumn marks a critical period for Ukraine, as front line pressures, Russian aerial bombardment, and rapid turnover at the top of the AFU combine to create confusion and uncertainty for military analysts. Russian forces seem to be in a better position than ever to capture the remaining settlements of the Donbas region, though the final conquest will likely still require time, resources, and drain Russian forces in other areas.

Ukraine is set to enter this autumn with a reformed military leadership, aiming to modernize the AFU and improve its effectiveness. However, the most pressing strategic challenges for Ukraine seem to stem from Russia's swift deployment of jet-powered UAVs and Banderol missile-drones. Concerns about a winter humanitarian crisis are mounting, and the search for effective countermeasures is becoming increasingly urgent.

This KI Insights monthly briefing will tackle three key questions: the current state of the front in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, the development of kinetic and electronic warfare countermeasures against Russia's new jet-powered UAVs, and the identities of Drapatyi and Khmara's new teams and their potential impact on Ukraine's strategic direction.

The briefing will take place online in English and will feature a presentation followed by a Q&A session. It is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 17:00 Kyiv time, with the same time for other major cities. The event is exclusive to KI Insights subscribers, who can register for free and receive the login details via email. Non-subscribers are encouraged to sign up now at insights.kyivindependent.com.