Maksym Bugriy
Maksym Bugriy is a political risk and investment consultant based in Ukraine.
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Articles by Maksym Bugriy
Macron’s France Struggles to Chart Course in Russia’s War on Ukraine
President Emmanuel Macron’s recent warning not to “humiliate” Russia (Ouest-france.fr, June 3), while he continues to try to mediate Russia’s “exit” from the war in Ukraine, drew ire from Ukrainian
The Oil War: Facing EU Embargo, Russia Targeted Ukraine’s Supplies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly advocates for an embargo on Russian oil imports to the European Union: “Now the priority is the oil embargo. No matter how hard Moscow tries
Why the Russian Military Committed Atrocities in Bucha
The discovery of wide-scale atrocities in Bucha, documented by satellite imagery, incoming Ukrainian forces, and videos obtained by independent Russian media based in Europe (Meduza, April 7), prompted an international
Ukraine’s China Policy: A (Not so) Delicate Balance
Reporting on the saga of Chinese efforts to purchase Ukraine’s strategic Motor Sich aerospace production company frequently casts Kyiv as a weak “pawn” on the geopolitical chessboard, caught in the
Role of Cryptocurrencies in Financing Russia’s ‘Hybrid’ Wars
Myrotvorets, a controversial independent Ukrainian website that claims to track persons threatening Ukraine’s security, has called on the authorities in Kyiv to investigate Russia’s alleged use of cryptocurrencies (via the
EDM Contributor Maksym Bugriy Interviewed by Kyiv Post
On December 27, Kyiv Post interviewed regular Jamestown contributor Maksym Bugriy on the shake-up occurring in Ukraine's national defense industry concern Ukroboronprom.
Ukraine and Russia Compete in Health Reform
The Ukrainian Rada (parliament) successfully passed health reform bills on June 5 and October 19. Spearheaded by the American-born, Ukrainian acting minister of health, Dr. Ulana Suprun, the medical reform
Solar Energy Development in Ukraine: A Matter of State Security
Foreign investments in renewable energy projects benefit Ukraine in the shift to clean energy, but they also are have wider geo-economic and national security importance for this struggling European democracy.
Russian Proposal Reopens Donbas UN Peacekeepers Debate
The attendance of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session (September 12–25, 2017) highlighted the importance Kyiv places on the draft resolution it submitted
Who Is Opposing Ukraine’s Health Reform Bill?
After the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of Ukraine failed, on the last day of its July session, to approve health reform bill #6327, a vote on the second reading awaits approval
Intelligence Reform in Ukraine Falls Short
In late July 2017, the Ukrainian non-governmental advisory organization Reanimation Package of Reforms (RPR) called on President Petro Poroshenko and the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to immediately reform
Russian Citizenship for Ukrainians: Addressing Russia’s Population Decline
The State Duma of the Russian Federation passed an amendment to its citizenship laws, on July 12, easing the procedure for Ukrainians to acquire Russian citizenship. According to the new
Donbas Blockade Exposes Political Fault Lines in Ukraine
It has been one month since a group of demobilized Ukrainian soldiers and veterans of the volunteer battalions took it upon themselves (starting on January 25) to enforce a trade
Moscow Benefits from Influence Campaign to Reinstate Ukraine-Russia Economic Ties
This past fall, Ukraine came under a media influence campaign that agitated for reinstating economic ties with Russia. Over the course of September–December 2016, several Ukrainian websites published a series
Ukraine’s Resilience Strengthens, Though Regional Cohesion Risks Remain
President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials frequently refer to Ukraine’s weak social cohesion, thereby justifying the notion that Russia is intervening in this allegedly ungovernable weak state to protect
Ukraine’s New Concept Paper on Security and Defense Reform
On March 16, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko approved the “Concept for the Development of the Security and Defense Sector” (President.gov.ua, March 16). The document lays out the “Western” vision for
Russia’s Moves to Gain Dominance in the Black Sea
Russia’s primary objectives in the Black Sea region are to maximize its strategic and maritime influence there, isolate Ukraine and Georgia, weaken the cohesion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Destruction of Donbas Economy Supports Local Russia-Backed ‘Insurgency’
Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov’s key energy company DTEK announced the restructuring of its $750 million and $160 million Eurobonds, which are set to mature in 2018 (Interfax-Ukraine, December 1). One
Debates on Finlandization for Ukraine
The issue of Ukraine’s prospective future membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) surfaced again recently with the publication of the latest public opinion poll, according to which, a
Russian Factory Ownership Hurts Ukraine’s President Poroshenko
President Petro Poroshenko’s continued ownership of a confectionary manufacturing facility in Lipetsk, Russia, has become such a political burden for the Ukrainian leader that he specifically addressed the issue of
The War and the Orthodox Churches in Ukraine
On January 28, a village parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate) in Ternopil province published a letter to the Ukrainian Church’s primate, Metropolitan Onufriy. In
Nursultan Nazarbayev’s Ukraine Diplomacy
On January 9, Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Walter Steinmeier in Berlin in order to discuss the crisis in Ukraine and to
Issues in Russia-Turkey Relations After Crimea
On December 4, Major-General Oleksandr Rozmazninov, of Ukraine’s General Staff, reported a Russian deployment of the Iskander-M tactical missile system to Crimea. (Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, December 4). This and other Russian
Economic Warfare in the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict: Crimea
Russia’s “hybrid warfare” concept embraces economic warfare as one of its key elements. Yet, less attention has been paid to the details of the economic war between Russia and Ukraine
Ukraine Contemplates Naval Strategies
On August 24, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko attended a naval parade in the Black Sea port city of Odesa (UNIAN, August 24). In his remarks that day, President Poroshenko argued
Hot Issue – Konstantin Malofeev: Fringe Christian Orthodox Financier of the Donbas Separatists
Executive Summary The Russia-supported separatists operating in eastern Ukraine as well as some of their backers in Russia are increasingly espousing a radical ideology based on a meld of Christian
Nuclear Deterrence in the Context of the Ukrainian-Russian Conflict
In the aftermath of the Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 tragedy, the Russian proxy war against Ukraine may evolve in one of three ways. It could become even more irregular, leading
The Rise of Drones in Eurasia (Part Two: Russia)
On May 28, the Ukrainian military reportedly shot down a drone (unmanned aerial vehicle—UAV) that was taking images of a Ukrainian military base engaged in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in
The Rise of Drones in Eurasia (Part One: Ukraine)
Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles—UAV) have made their way into the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. In several instances, the press reported on UAVs having been shot down by various sides in Kyiv’s war
Jamestown Analyst Maksym Bugriy Interviewed on Fox News
Jamestown analyst Maksym Bugriy was interviewed about president-elect Petro Poroshenko on Fox News, on May 27.
What to Expect From Petro Poroshenko in National Security?
The swift and overwhelming victory of Petro Poroshenko in the May 25 Ukrainian presidential elections (ITAR-TASS, May 25) raises questions about the new president’s security policy. In fact, he now
The Southeast Unrest and the Ukrainian Military
On May 13, armed pro-Russian rebels ambushed a Ukrainian military convoy transporting ammunition on the outskirts of the flashpoint city of Kramatorsk, killing seven paratroopers of the 95th airborne brigade
Jamestown Analyst Maksym Bugriy Interviewed by CTV
On April 25, CTV carried out a live on-air interview with Jamestown analyst Maksym Bugriy regarding the situation in Ukraine.
VOA-Ukraine Service Covers Jamestown Conference on Ukraine Crisis
Voice of America - Ukraine Service released its coverage of Jamestown's April 21 event on Ukraine, including interviews with several of the event's panelists.
The Cost to Ukraine of Crimea’s Annexation
The Ukrainian government has apparently understated its possible economic losses caused by Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula. According to a recent valuation by the Ukrainian Ministry of Environment and
Southeastern Ukraine Unrest and Domestic Politics
The Ukrainian authorities’ initial response to the unrest in the country’s southeastern regions was a mixed one: Pro-Russian protesters were able to seize the regional administration buildings in Donetsk and
The Crimean Operation: Russian Force and Tactics
The military aspect of Russia’s intervention in Crimea is coming to an end. On March 25, Vladimir Putin ordered the local “self-defense” forces to integrate into the regular Russian military
Ukraine’s Diplomatic Efforts to Gain Security in the Crimean Conflict
The Russian Federal Assembly will probably recognize the official annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in the coming days. Having essentially avoided armed resistance to the Russian operation to date, the
Jamestown Analyst Maksym Bugriy Interviewed by Swiss Radio
Jamestown expert on Ukrainian security issues Maksym Bugriy provided remarks to Swiss Radio regarding the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Jamestown Analyst Maksym Bugriy Interviewed on Swiss Public Radio
Jamestown Foundation expert on Ukraine was interviewed about the crisis in the country by Swiss Public Radio.
Hot Issue – Ukrainian Protests and the Armed Forces: Will the Military Stay in Its Barracks?
Executive SummaryTo date, the besieged Ukrainian government has largely avoided deploying the Armed Forces against the Maidan protesters, even when the situation has devolved into serious street violence with the
Ukraine’s Crisis and Federalization Options
Federation as a possible way out of Ukraine’s political crisis is currently at the center of domestic political and expert discourse. But meanwhile, the new outburst of violence in the
Jamestown Analyst Maksym Bugriy Interviewed by Slovak Pravda
Jamestown Foundation Ukraine analyst Maksym Bugriy spoke to Slovak Pravda regarding the pro-EU protests in Kyiv. He was also interviewed by the Paper's Editor's blog regarding the danger of a
Ukraine: The Unaddressed Issues Facing the Protest Leaders
On January 28, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov submitted his resignation to President Viktor Yanukovych, while an extraordinary session of the parliament (Vekhovna Rada) repealed the “draconian laws of January 16,”
Tension in Ukraine Likely to Turn Into Civil Conflict
A radical outburst of demonstrations on Hrushevskoho Street and European Square in Kyiv on January 22 resulted in the reported deaths of two protesters from rifle bullet wounds (http://www.unian.ua/politics/875144-pershi-jertvi-protistoyannya-troe-zagiblih-na-grushevskogo.html). The
Ukraine: Waiting for a ‘Washington, with a new and righteous law’
Following the winter holiday break, the Ukrainian parliament—the Verkhovna Rada—reconvened and, on January 16, passed perhaps the most controversial set of bills in the country’s history. These bills were subsequently
Russian Policy Toward Ukraine: What Next After EuroMaidan?
After President Viktor Yanukovych’s failure to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union at the November 28–29 Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, Russian pressure on Ukraine seemingly eased. But
Ukraine—Strong People, Weak State (Part Two): Impact on Foreign Relations
Ukraine’s refusal to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union at the November 28–29 summit in Vilnius has resulted in a sharp cooling of relations between President Viktor Yanukovych
Ukraine—Strong People, Weak State (Part One): The Domestic Situation
Recent developments in Ukraine have rapidly escalated into a political crisis after the authorities allowed special “Berkut” police units to crack down on protesters rallying in Kyiv’s Independence Square (“Maidan
Ukraine: Not Going West for Now
The Ukrainian authorities have seemingly activated a “pause” in Kyiv’s European integration process. President Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions, which controls the government and holds an overwhelming plurality in the
Kyiv Testing ‘Pause’ in EU Integration
The political situation in Ukraine has been heating up as the European Union’s November 28–29 Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius approaches. Kyiv is preparing to sign an Association Agreement (AA)
Ukraine’s Military Reform Marred by ‘Generals Scandal’
On October 14, President Viktor Yanukovych launched the advanced stage of Ukraine’s military reform by issuing a decree canceling the compulsory draft to the armed forces in 2014 (http://dt.ua/UKRAINE/v-ukrayini-skasovano-obov-yazkoviy-prizov-na-strokovu-sluzhbu-v-armiyu-130046_.html). However,
Ukraine Conducts Aggressor Response Exercise Amidst Tensions with Russia
Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych inspected the Army and Air Force’s performance as commander-in-chief at the Yavoriv military and peacekeeping training center in Lviv oblast on October 1. The website of
The Future of the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s Bases: Novorossiysk Versus Sevastopol
The Russian Navy has decided to deploy three ships stationed at the base in Sevastopol on Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula to its reestablished Mediterranean flotilla. In particular, on September 4, Moscow
How Powerful is the Pro-Russian Lobby in Ukraine?
New initiatives supporting Russian economic and political objectives keep emerging in Ukraine as the date of the expected signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union at the November
Ukrainian-Russian Relations: Facing Cool Winter
On July 28, Vladimir Putin completed a working visit to Kyiv that immediately caused controversy about the outlook of Ukrainian-Russian relations. The Russian president had a brief meeting with his
Ukraine’s Air Defense: Balancing Between CSTO and NATO
Ukraine is preparing to take part in air defense exercises with Russia and Belarus and a multilateral air force exercise in Kazakhstan, all to be held by November 2013 (http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/200/2013).