On February 15, 2025, the “Turn Your Ambitions into Opportunities” program concluded, marking the completion of an initiative aimed at preparing Ukrainian students for analytical careers in the security and defense sector. The program covered business and military analytics, OSINT, AI-driven tools, policy development, stakeholder engagement, and more.
This initiative was implemented by Sahaidachnyi Security Center with the support of the Reforms Support Office of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine. It is part of the Defense Advisor Support Program funded by the UK Government.
The closing event was attended by think tanks, government agencies, and defense-related organizations, providing an opportunity for them to showcase their work and present job openings. Graduates had the chance to introduce themselves to potential employers, including NAKO, the Reforms Support Office of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, BRDO, the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” ,” the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation, the “Come Back Alive” Foundation, the Human Rights Center “Pryncyp,” the 12th Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, OSINT startup Osavul, and others.
“This course serves multiple purposes. First, it aims to open the door for young talents into a highly closed sector—security and defense. Second, there is a critical shortage of analysts in this field, both in the public and private sectors. For a country that has been at war for 11 years, this is unacceptable. With this course, we want those looking for new employees to meet those who are trained and eager to contribute to strengthening the country’s defense capabilities,” – commented Lesia Ogryzko, Director of the Sahaidachnyi Security Center.
The program lasted for one and a half months and graduated 51 students, who received official certificates.
Program graduate Kyrylo Matiukha shared his experience: “I really appreciated that experts and specialists from different areas of the analytical field were invited. This provided a comprehensive understanding of how the sector operates and helped me realize which skills and expertise are needed to join and contribute effectively. Additionally, the numerous discussions allowed me to deepen my understanding of specific topics related to the public sector, which will undoubtedly be useful in my professional career.”
The training became a crucial step in strengthening Ukraine’s security and defense sector, laying the foundation for a professional community of analysts.
