DEF.Talks on OSINT to be held in Kyiv with the CEOs of the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry and ARX Robotics Ukraine

On 17 March, Kyiv will host a new event in the DEF.Talks series of professional discussions on defence tech and partnerships. The first event of 2026 will focus on one of the most pressing challenges for Ukrainian companies entering foreign markets: vetting potential partners to avoid hidden affiliations, reputational risks, or strategic threats before signing a contract.

At the centre of the discussion is OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) — a methodology and set of digital tools for conducting in-depth due diligence on counterparties using open sources. Participants will examine real-life cases, discuss common mistakes, and share practical approaches to working with international partners amid uncertainty. The event’s media partner is Defender Media.

Key discussion topics

• How to identify hidden affiliations and strategic threats before signing a contract;
• OSINT in practice: digital tools for screening international partners;
• Entering foreign markets without blind spots — real-world case studies.

Speakers

• Ihor Fedirko, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry.
• Igor Kornilov, CEO of ARX Robotics in Ukraine.
• Serhii Milman, Founder and CEO of YouControl.

The discussion will be moderated by Oksana Horbunova, COO of BazaIT and CEO of BazaIT/Defense.

Date and time: 17 March, 18:00
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Registration: via the official event website at the provided link.

Partners: General Cherry, YouControl, Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation, UNIT.City, BazaIT Defense, Morshynska, and Underwood Brewery.