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Articles by Konstantin Skorkin
Russian Indoctrination in Occupied Ukrainian Schools Is a Sham
Blog Carnegie Politika is a digital publication that features unmatched analysis and insight on Russia, Ukraine and the wider region. For nearly a decade, Carnegie Politika has published contributions from members of Carnegie’s global network of scholars and well-known outside contributors and has helped drive important strategic conversations and policy debates. In the four-and-a-half years it has controlled southeastern Ukraine, Moscow has established a new education system.
Fedorov’s Challenge to Zelensky Could Upend Ukrainian Politics
Blog Carnegie Politika is a digital publication that features unmatched analysis and insight on Russia, Ukraine and the wider region. For nearly a decade, Carnegie Politika has published contributions from members of Carnegie’s global network of scholars and well-known outside contributors and has helped drive important strategic conversations and policy debates.
Pierwszy zamach terrorystyczny w Monako. Teraz w grze jest reputacja Ukrainy
Księstwo Monako to ulubione miejsce życia i wypoczynku światowych elit — jest tu drogo, ale bezpiecznie, a pochodzeniem kapitału nieszczególnie się interesują, co w szczególności przyciąga osoby z byłego ZSRR. Nie brakuje tu także swoistej ukraińskiej kolonii, którą rodzime media nazywają z przekąsem "Batalionem 'Monako'" — wielu przedstawicieli ukraińskiej elity zarabia pieniądze na ojczyźnie ogarniętej wojną, by wydawać je tu na luksusowe życie.
Parliamentary Elections in Occupied Ukraine Risk Backfiring for the Kremlin
Blog Carnegie Politika is a digital publication that features unmatched analysis and insight on Russia, Ukraine and the wider region. For nearly a decade, Carnegie Politika has published contributions from members of Carnegie’s global network of scholars and well-known outside contributors and has helped drive important strategic conversations and policy debates. The Kremlin is counting on State Duma elections going ahead in occupied Ukraine in September.
Ukraine’s Achilles’ heel. How Kyiv is overcoming its military recruitment crisis
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has been criticizing the mobilization methods the country has been using. While acknowledging that coercive measures are unavoidable, he noted that there is room for reform in order to eliminate “cases of inhumane treatment.” For the first time, the country’s highest authorities have admitted that the actions of territorial centers of recruitment often cross legal boundaries, turning recruitment efforts into a manhunt.
Kryzys władzy Wołodymyra Zełenskiego. Dla prezydenta Ukrainy to kolejny test [ANALIZA]
Kiedy pod koniec 2025 r. Wołodymyr Zełenski zwolnił szefa swojej administracji Andrija Jermaka, ukraińskie media zastanawiały się, czy zostaną mu postawione oficjalne zarzuty, czy też pozostanie nietykalny? Jermak pojawił się w słynnych "nagraniach Mindicza" — podsłuchanych rozmowach, które Narodowe Biuro Antykorupcyjne Ukrainy (NABU) zbierało w sprawie przedsiębiorcy Timura Mindicza, długoletniego przyjaciela i partnera biznesowego Zełenskiego.
Jeden pas, jeden Donbas. Chiny po cichu robią z okupowanej Ukrainy swoją przybudówkę. Kreml ma związane ręce
Według marcowego raportu organizacji Eastern Human Rights Group (Grupy Praw Człowieka ze Wschodu) około 6000 stacji bazowych sieci komórkowych na okupowanej Ukrainie korzysta z chińskiego sprzętu. Około 80 oddziałów banków w Donbasie oferuje transakcje gotówkowe w juanach. Wymiana delegacji na poziomie lokalnym oraz ostrożna współpraca z chińskimi firmami pod hasłem "substytucji importu" rozwijają się, podczas gdy Pekin starannie unika sankcji.
One belt, one Donbas: China is gaining a foothold in Russian-occupied Ukraine
About 6,000 mobile communications base stations in occupied Ukraine are using Chinese equipment, according to a March report by the Eastern Human Rights Group. About 80 bank branches in Donbas offer cash transactions in yuan. Grassroots delegation exchanges and cautious cooperation with Chinese companies under the banner of “import substitution” are unfolding as Beijing carefully avoids sanctions.
Chiński smok nad Donbasem. Tak Pekin rozpycha się w okupowanej Ukrainie
Na okupowanych terytoriach Ukrainy działa 6000 stacji bazowych telefonii komórkowej opartych na chińskim sprzęcie — wynika z marcowego raportu Wschodniej Grupy Praw Człowieka. Ok. 80 oddziałów bankowych w Donbasie prowadzi obrót gotówkowym juanem chińskim.
How Yulia Tymoshenko returned to the center of Ukrainian politics yet again
On January 14th, the veteran Ukrainian politician Yulia Tymoshenko was charged with offering bribes to members of parliament. She reportedly offered bribes to members of Volodymyr Zelensky's party. Her story intersects with the larger forces at work in the Ukrainian parliament, writes Konstantin Skorkin in an article originally published by Carnegie Politika. Yulia Tymoshenko speaks as she attends her pre-trial hearing at a court in Kyiv on January 16, 2026.
Why Did Zelensky Make a Spymaster His Chief of Staff?
Blog Carnegie Politika is a digital publication that features unmatched analysis and insight on Russia, Ukraine and the wider region. For nearly a decade, Carnegie Politika has published contributions from members of Carnegie’s global network of scholars and well-known outside contributors and has helped drive important strategic conversations and policy debates.
Amid U.S. Pressure, Ukrainian Elites and Society Rally Around Zelensky
Ten or fifteen years ago, if the Ukrainian president had been kicked out of the White House amid a scandal, it would likely have been the end of his career. In the turbulent world of Ukrainian politics, the remnants of his credibility would have been swiftly destroyed by rivals and oligarch-controlled media.
Ceasefire Talk Raises Prospect of Ukrainian Presidential Elections
The return of Donald Trump to the White House has breathed new life into domestic politics in Ukraine. All elections were suspended when martial law was imposed following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, but Trump’s promise to end the war means presidential elections could now be in the cards. Even though there is no guarantee that peace is around the corner, many are already starting to campaign.
Individuals Over Institutions: Ukraine’s Government Reshuffle
In February 2024, upon dismissing the popular Valery Zaluzhny as commander in chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, President VolodymyrZelensky hinted at a wider reshuffle. The president’s team dealt with the military brass quickly enough, but it has taken months for the government’s civilian side to be overhauled. In the spring, many of Zelensky’s old allies were replaced by associates of Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff.
Ukraine’s Ban on Moscow-Linked Church Will Have Far-Reaching Consequences
Ukraine has passed a law banning religious organizations with links to Russia. The main target of the law is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOCMP), which was established in 1990 as a self-governing church under the canonical jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). The Ukrainian government held back from taking such a step immediately after the full-scale invasion by Russia: after all, the UOCMP is the country’s biggest church.
Why President Zelensky Is Purging His Inner Circle
President Volodymyr Zelensky is continuing his large-scale purge of the Ukrainian leadership in an attempt to achieve greater cohesion and efficiency. The Ukrainian president is preparing for a double crisis in which increasing pressure from Russian troops at the front could add to internal destabilization after Zelensky’s presidential term formally expires on May 20.
Is Zelensky’s Legitimacy Really At Risk?
Volodymyr Zelensky’s five-year presidential term expires on May 20, 2024. When he was inaugurated, Zelensky promised to bring peace to Ukraine, to root out the corrupt elite, and to serve just one term as president. But time is a cruel and fickle master. Now Ukraine is embroiled in a full-scale war as it defends itself against Russian aggression; domestic politics is plagued by corruption; and Zelensky stands accused of seeking to usurp power.
What Does General Zaluzhny’s Dismissal Mean for Ukraine?
The strained relationship between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny has dominated Ukrainian domestic politics for over a year now. Zaluzhny’s dismissal, which finally came on February 8, had long been expected, but the news still eclipsed other events and gave rise to a whole host of predictions about what awaits the Ukrainian army under its new commander. The potential political consequences at home also appear to be far-reaching.
Amid Frontline Stalemate, Kyiv Targets Ukraine’s Beleaguered Diaspora in Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decree on protecting the rights of Ukrainians in Russia looks like a tit-for-tat response to Kremlin rhetoric on defending Russian-speakers in Ukraine. With the fighting on the frontlines having entered a stalemate, Kyiv is casting around for other ways to demonstrate that it is standing firm against the Putin regime. In practical terms, however, the Ukrainian minority inside Russia is ill-suited for such lofty goals.
Are Ukraine’s President and Chief Commander Really at War?
As the war in Ukraine reaches the end of its second year, not a trace remains of the former unity among the Ukrainian elite. The longer the fighting drags on, the more tempting it is to look for someone to blame, and the more real the threat of internal destabilization. The most dangerous fault line is that between the civilian and military authorities, personified by President Volodymyr Zelensky and Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny.
As Politics Returns to Ukraine, the Fight for Russian-Speakers’ Votes Begins
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought about an unprecedented consolidation of the Ukrainian nation: the existential threat has at least temporarily bridged the country’s regional and linguistic divides. Still, talk of holding elections as early as next year has revived politics in Ukraine and raised the question of who might get the votes of Russian-speaking Ukrainians.
Changing the cogs Journalist Konstantin Skorkin breaks down Kyiv’s wartime corruption crackdown — Meduza
Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov’s ousting may be Ukraine’s biggest government shake-up since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, but he’s far from the only official to have faced scrutiny in recent months. Regional and local officials have come under fire for spending public money on “non-essentials” in wartime, and a countrywide effort to clean up corruption in the military’s enlistment system is ongoing.
W samym środku wojny Ukraina rzuca się w kampanię przeciwko korupcji. Czy Zełenski ogarnie ten kryzys?
Przedłużająca się wojna stworzyła nowe możliwości dla korupcji na Ukrainie. Według Kijowskiego Międzynarodowego Instytutu Socjologii Ukraińcy uważają korupcję za drugi najważniejszy problem w kraju po rosyjskiej agresji. Tego zdania jest 89 proc. respondentów.
Occupied Ukraine’s Turncoat Elites Struggle to Make Their Mark in Russian Politics
Ever since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia has been integrating representatives of local Ukrainian elites into its power structures. Most of these men and women have long looked to Moscow: they are mainly high-profile members of pro-Russian parties, influence peddlers, or the business partners of Russian tycoons. There are also some who rose unexpectedly to the top as a result of events on the ground. There is no way back for these people.
Occupied Ukraine’s Turncoat Elites Struggle to Make Their Mark in Russian Politics Original
Ever since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia has been integrating representatives of local Ukrainian elites into its power structures. Most of these men and women have long looked to Moscow: they are mainly high-profile members of pro-Russian parties, influence peddlers, or the business partners of Russian tycoons. There are also some who rose unexpectedly to the top as a result of events on the ground. There is no way back for these people.
A New Potemkin Vote in Occupied Ukraine
Amid the Ukrainian counteroffensive, the Kremlin is seeking to shore up its position in occupied parts of Ukraine: not only militarily, but also politically, by preparing to hold elections there in September. On the one hand, the vote is calculated to boost loyalty to Russia among locals and force them to participate in political life according to the laws of the occupier. On the other, it is meant to project confidence to Russians and signal that the war is going according to plan.
Ukraine’s Other Battle: Zelensky vs. the Mayors
Distinguishing anti-corruption campaigns from political persecution in Ukraine has always been difficult, and even Russia’s invasion has not changed that. The recent arrest of one of the country’s most influential regional politicians, Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov, is the latest episode in a high-profile series of legal proceedings brought against Ukrainian mayors that continues despite the military freeze on political life.
Azovstal: A history Journalist Konstantin Skorkin tells the story of the steelworks that lay at the heart of Mariupol life — Meduza
One year ago, Russian forces were laying siege to Mariupol. Its famous Azovstal Iron and Steel Works had come to serve as a stronghold for the last Ukrainian soldiers defending the encircled city, as well as a refuge for desperate civilians. Those who managed to escape Mariupol said the Russian assault turned their hometown into “hell on earth.” Journalists report that as many as 75,000 people were killed in Mariupol alone; villages on the city’s outskirts now harbor sprawling mass graves.
One Year Of Ukraine War, North Korea Test Missiles, IG’s New Queen
👋 Tere!* Welcome to Friday, where the world marks one year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea test-fires four cruise missiles and some Netflix users get a discount. Meanwhile, Spanish-language magazine La Marea looks at the new Chilean government’s plans to finally track down the remains of what are believed to be thousands who were forcibly disappeared and executed during the Pinochet dictatorship.
Zelensky And The Delicate Task Of Tackling Corruption In Wartime
-Analysis- KYIV — To understand Volodymyr Zelensky's spectacular rise, it's worth going back to his arrival on the political scene in Ukraine. In the first round of the 2019 presidential elections, the well-known actor and comedian, and political novice, got 30% of the ballots, before rallying the entire protest vote in the second round to win with a sensational 73%. In May 2020, about 40% of Ukrainians supported Zelensky’s presidency.
What the Return of Kremlin Ally Medvedchuk Means for the War in Ukraine
Viktor Medvedchuk, for a long time a leading pro-Russia figure in Ukrainian politics, had until now been lying low since he turned up in Russia last year. A personal friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Ukrainian politician was detained trying to flee Ukraine last year, and was subsequently brought to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange. Now the publication of an article by Medvedchuk in the Russian newspaper Izvestia appears to herald his return to the public arena.
What the Return of Kremlin Ally Medvedchuk Means for the War in Ukraine
Viktor Medvedchuk, for a long time a leading pro-Russia figure in Ukrainian politics, had until now been lying low since he turned up in Russia last year. A personal friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Ukrainian politician was detained trying to flee Ukraine last year, and was subsequently brought to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange. Now the publication of an article by Medvedchuk in the Russian newspaper Izvestia appears to herald his return to the public arena.
What Next for Ukraine’s Formerly Pro-Russian Regions?
opinion Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions means that a large chunk of the country’s Russian-speaking southeast is returning to the Ukrainian political arena. As the heartland of pro-Russian political parties, this region has always held a distinct place in the country’s politics, and even after 2014, sought to offer an alternative to Kyiv’s Euro-Atlantic trajectory.
What Next for Ukraine’s Formerly Pro-Russian Regions?
Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions means that a large chunk of the country’s Russian-speaking southeast is returning to the Ukrainian political arena. As the heartland of pro-Russian political parties, this region has always held a distinct place in the country’s politics, and even after 2014, sought to offer an alternative to Kyiv’s Euro-Atlantic trajectory.
Ukraine’s Oligarchs Are a Dying Breed. The Country Will Never Be the Same
It was not so long ago that the oligarchs and their relationship with the central government were a key element in Ukrainian politics. Their enormous capital that grew out of the corrupt privatization of Soviet industry on the eve of the 2000s influenced the most diverse aspects of the country’s political life, from the agenda set by the media to the makeup of parliament. That has all changed, however, with the outbreak of war.
Aneksja czy konfederacja. Co Kreml zrobi z Donbasem
Rosjanie wymieniają władze tzw. republik ludowych w Donbasie Moskwa nie spieszy się jednak z przeprowadzeniem tzw. referendów o przyłączeniu do Rosji Kreml nie zdecydował jeszcze, co chce zrobić z Donbasem, czekając prawdopodobnie na rozwój działań wojennych Możliwy jest powrót do idei Noworosji jako buforu między Rosją i Ukrainą Więcej analiz na stronie głównej Onetu Szczyt działań wojennych w Donbasie nie zapobiegł radykalnej odnowie przywództwa separatystycznych republik.
To Join Russia or Not to Join? All Change in the Donbas Republics
The new intensity of fighting in the Donbas in recent weeks hasn’t prevented a radical reshuffle in the leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics (DNR and LNR). Both breakaway territories have seen changes made to key government posts, with the DNR also getting a new prime minister. The defining trend in the new wave of appointments is the open presence of Russian nationals, who were previously kept in the shadows.
Traitors in the Ranks: Zelensky Purges Ukraine’s Security Services
Following Russia’s invasion, the Ukrainian elite defied the expectations of many to demonstrate a rarely seen unity. Previous disagreements were put aside, there was no mass defection over to Russia’s side, and political life moved to the president’s inner circle, where key decisions are made. The Russian invasion has put the very existence of the Ukrainian state in jeopardy. But it has also allowed President Volodymyr Zelensky to solve most of the political problems he faced before the war.
"Moim największym błędem było to, że uwierzyłem Rosji". Wspomnienie o prezydencie Ukrainy Leonidzie Krawczuku
Leonid Krawczuk był oddanym działaczem ukraińskiej partii komunistycznej, ale w 1991 r. stanął na czele ukraińskich nacjonalistów, doprowadził do rozpadu ZSRR i powstania niepodległej Ukrainy Prowadził sprytną, choć niedocenioną przez rodaków politykę zagraniczną polegającą na manewrowaniu pomiędzy Rosją i Zachodem Największe błędy polityczne popełnił po bardzo ważnym dla Ukrainy pokojowym przekazaniu władzy po przegranych wyborach.
In the Donbas, Russia’s Newest Citizens Prepare to Vote
The Kremlin continues to view the breakaway republics as a buffer zone and Trojan horse inside a recalcitrant Ukraine, but allowing their inhabitants to take part in Russian domestic politics will help to score key propaganda points. The more the Minsk agreements aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine dissolve into a diplomatic pipe dream, the more active Moscow is becoming in integrating the breakaway Donbas republics into Russian life.
Tough Talk Abroad Proves a Hit at Home for Ukraine’s Zelensky
It’s unlikely that Zelensky seriously believed that his sharp rhetoric with Merkel and Biden would lead to the West accepting Ukraine into NATO or canceling Nord Stream 2. But his behavior strikes a chord with the public at home. It’s been a difficult summer for Ukrainian foreign policy.
In the Donbass, Russia’s Newest Citizens Prepare to Vote
The more the Minsk agreements aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine dissolve into a diplomatic pipe dream, the more active Moscow is becoming in integrating the breakaway Donbass republics into Russian life. The September elections for the Russian Duma will be another — perhaps irreversible — step in that direction.
Zelensky Wages War on Ukraine’s Oligarchs
In the last two years, President Zelensky has managed to strengthen his personal power considerably. His battle against the influence of Ukraine’s oligarchs, therefore, may not be as hopeless as it might first seem. It’s not so long ago that Volodymyr Zelensky began his political career branded as nothing more than a puppet controlled by the oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky. Now the Ukrainian president has set his sights on removing the country’s powerful oligarchs from any decisions of state importance.
Donbas Escalation Has Given Zelensky a Boost-But for How Long?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees his growing popularity as proof that he chose the right course when he gave up trying to please all the disparate groups that voted for him in 2019. He is likely to continue his anti-Russian rhetoric and sanctions against domestic enemies. This spring’s escalation in the Donbas has helped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky escape the political doldrums.
Merge and Rule: What’s In Store for the Donetsk and Luhansk Republics
Donbas should brace itself for a long time in the role of a Russian military protectorate like Transnistria or South Ossetia. Local elites will have to deal with Moscow’s efforts to optimize the region’s administration, while the people there will see the creeping integration of the republics with Russia.
Trump’s Disregard for Democracy Gives Ukraine’s Zelensky Free Rein at Home
The unexpected rapprochement between the United States and Russia amid negotiations to end the war in Ukraine has prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to turn to domestic sanctions once again—this time against a group of Ukrainian oligarchs including former president Petro Poroshenko. This shows that Zelensky is preparing for the political struggle that would follow the imposition of a disadvantageous peace.
IMF Bailout Costs Ukraine’s President Dear
Struggling to hold on to his party’s majority, President Zelensky is increasingly forced to take heed of the influential national-patriotic minority in parliament. Zelensky finds himself held hostage by the old elite, from whom he is buying the last chances for reform at the cost of his own political future. Far from being paralyzed by the mass quarantine measures prompted by the new coronavirus epidemic, Ukrainian politics is as action-packed as ever.
The New Church Politics of Ukraine
President Poroshenko is making use of the newly created Orthodox Church of Ukraine for political ends. The new church may become a state-sponsored church, while the pro-Moscow church could present itself as a marginalized persecuted entity. On December 15, Ukraine’s newly independent church, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) came into being.
Pandemic Unsettles Ukraine’s Zelenskiy
Pandemic Unsettles Ukraine’s Zelenskiy In Ukraine, the chaos caused by the coronavirus pandemic combined with the country’s existing political problems could sharpen the appetite for authoritarianism in Ukrainian society. Read Full Article »
Cracks Emerge in Ukraine’s Ruling Party
Faced with a fluctuating approval rating, President Zelensky is attempting to instill order in his party’s ranks. The voting machine that he built from his parliamentary majority is beginning to malfunction as deputies refuse to be mere cogs in that machine. Volodymyr Zelensky is the first president of Ukraine to have secured a single-party majority in his favor in the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament.
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