DUB at Café Kyiv 2026: Join Our Discussions in Berlin

On February 23, 2026, Berlin will host Café Kyiv — one of Europe’s largest public events dedicated to Ukraine, organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation together with numerous partners. The forum brings together policymakers, experts, civil society leaders, and members of the public to discuss Ukraine’s security, recovery, and European future.

The German-Ukrainian Bureau (DUB) is pleased to co-organize five panel discussions (in English) addressing key issues such as lessons from Ukraine’s drone warfare for NATO and Europe, the role of civil society in modern warfare, accountability for Russian aggression, and life under occupation. We warmly invite you to join these conversations and engage with leading Ukrainian and European experts.

Registration and the full program are available on the official Café Kyiv website.

🕚 11:00–11:45 | Kino 4

Defining the European Way of Drone Warfare – Lessons from Ukraine for NATO and Europe

Unmanned systems have become central to the Ukrainian battlefield, with Russia and Ukraine both rapidly innovating in UAVs, autonomous systems, EW, and battlefield robotics. These developments offer critical insights for European defence thinking and preparedness for the current geopolitical situation in future conflicts.

Speakers:

Jeanne Dillschneider, German MP (Greens), Member of the Defence Committee

Matthias Lehna, Managing Director Quantum Frontline Industries

Igor Raikov, Lieutenant, Chief of Unmanned Systems Service, 13 Brigade National Guard of Ukraine "Khartiia"

Oleksii Rudenko, Junior Sergeant, representative of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov“

Moderation: Mattia Nelles, CEO & Co-founder, German-Ukrainian Bureau

The session is organized in partnership with Quantum Systems.

🕑 14:45–15:30 | Kino 4

The New Frontline: Civil Society’s Role in Modern Warfare and Ukraine’s Drone Revolution

russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has ushered in a new era of warfare—one for which Europe remains dangerously underprepared. Throughout this war, Ukrainian businesses and civil society have played an extraordinary and unconventional role in national defense: forming new volunteer brigades such as the Khartia Brigade, mobilising donations and essential equipment for frontline units, rapidly innovating low-cost technologies, including drone interception tools and battlefield sensors. This panel will help European experts, activists, and policymakers understand the evolving nature of warfare and the societal mobilisation required to meet it.

Speakers:

Iryna Krasnostan, Program Director ICUV, former analyst at the NATO Representation to Ukraine

Lesia Orobets, leader of the Sky Shield Initiative, former member of Ukrainian Parliament

Taras Tymochko, Project Lead, Come Back Alive

Nils Thal, German professional firefighter from Nuremberg who volunteered to work with the State Emergency Service in Kharkiv, Ukraine

Josef Kranawetvogl, Senior Vice President at STARK

Moderation: Mattia Nelles, CEO & Co-founder, German-Ukrainian Bureau

The session is organized in partnership with the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory.

🕒 15:15–16:15 | Kino 1

Under Occupation: Repression and Dignity

Keynote by Oleksandra Matviichuk

Since the annexation of Crimea and the start of the war in Donbas in 2014, russia has systematically targeted Ukrainian civilians through arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, forced confessions, and torture in prisons and secret detention facilities. Following the full-scale invasion in 2022, these practices have intensified dramatically. An estimated 16,000 people are believed to be unlawfully imprisoned. Many are held in isolation and tortured into forced confessions, while their families face intimidation and threats.

Speakers:

Oleksandra Matviichuk is a Ukrainian human rights lawyer and the head of the Center for Civil Liberties. She has extensive experience in strengthening civil society, advancing human rights, and documenting human rights violations in the context of armed conflict. In 2022, she and the Center for Civil Liberties were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Sasha Barkova is the sister of the imprisoned artist Bohdan Ziza. In May 2022, he poured blue and yellow paint over the façade of the occupation administration and has been imprisoned since. Sasha is campaigning for his release and works internationally to raise awareness of russian war crimes in occupied Crimea.

Leniie Umerova is a Crimean Tatar human rights activist and former political prisoner. She was arrested in 2022 at the Georgian–russian border on fabricated espionage charges and spent two years in Russian captivity. Today, Leniie advocates internationally for the rights of political prisoners from occupied Crimea and draws attention to russia’s systematic repression.

Moderation: Ira Ganzhorn, Libereco - Partnership for Human Rights e.V.

Intro speech: Inna Nelles, co-founder and researcher at the German-Ukrainian Bureau

The session is organized in partnership with LIBERECO.

🕡 18:30–19:15 | Kino 4

Deterring Authoritarians & Holding Russia Accountable: The Next Steps on #MakeRussiaPay

Following a December 2025 European Council meeting that saw heavy debate around repurposing $300 billion in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction, western leaders have still not chosen to unlock their full value either financially or strategically. However, the decision to indefinitely freeze Russia’s state assets represents an important interim breakthrough—paving the way for more substantial action. This panel examines the next necessary steps to using the full value of the frozen assets from the perspectives of international security and law—and holding Russia accountable.

Speakers:

HE Marika Linntam, Ambassador of Estonia to Germany

Jamison Firestone, Co-Founder, Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign

Dr. Olena Halushka, Co-Founder, International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV)

Yuliya Ziskina, Senior Legal Fellow, Razom for Ukraine

Patrick Heinemann, Partner, Bender Harrer Krevet

Moderation: Aaron Gasch Burnett, Senior Security Policy Fellow, ERIC

The session is organized in partnership with European Resilience Initiative Centre.

🕡 18:30–19:15 | Kino 7

How Europe and Ukraine Can Win the Information War

After four years of full-scale war and fresh global chaos in the headlines every day, public attention is drifting away from Ukraine, and with it, public support for the war effort. However, Ukraine's defence remains Germany's and Europe's first line of defence against the russian threat. If we lose the information war in Europe, we lose the war in Ukraine.

Speakers:

Lesia Orobets, leader of the Sky Shield Initiative, former member of Ukrainian Parliament

Peter Talos, Junior Sergeant, Azov International, National Guard of Ukraine

Julian Röpcke, Senior editor, Security policy and Conflicts, BILD

Moderation: Inna Nelles, co-founder and researcher at the German-Ukrainian Bureau.

The session is organized in partnership with German-Ukrainian Society.

Working language: English.

The team of the German-Ukrainian Bureau is grateful to the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and all partners who made Café Kyiv 2026 possible.