About
Welcome to Politicon.Lab — a space where politics and security are examined under a keen eye (or through the lens of in-depth analysis, or with maximum attention to detail).
Politicon.Lab is an analytical platform created by experts with academic and research backgrounds. We study international relations, security, and hybrid threats with a special focus on Ukraine and the post-Soviet space.
Our approach combines thorough analysis with practical understanding of complex geopolitical processes in the world and in Ukraine, in particular. We don’t just inform — we help make sense of the challenges and trends shaping both the present and the future.
In addition to our publications, we offer professional research services to help you obtain clear, well-founded answers to complex questions.
Authors’ Background
Dr. Ivan Fanin
I am a political scientist and international relations expert with a strong background in national security, diplomacy, and international military-technical cooperation. My work is currently centered on addressing foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), particularly through the exposure and debunking of Russian disinformation in the fields of nuclear energy and security.
In 2010, I earned a PhD in Political Science from the National Institute of International Security Problems under the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine. My doctoral research focused on the strategic role of Ukraine’s international military and technical cooperation in strengthening its defense capabilities and advancing its Euro-Atlantic integration. I examined how export control systems and cooperation in armaments policy contribute to national security and the modernization of Ukraine’s armed forces.
With experience in diplomacy and governmental policy-making, I bring an applied, interdisciplinary perspective to my research. Today, I am particularly interested in the intersection of nuclear energy policy, strategic communications, and democratic resilience in the context of hybrid threats. My goal is to contribute to international efforts aimed at reinforcing security and transparency in nuclear governance – especially across the post-Soviet space.
Dr. Olena Kotelyanets
I am a political scientist and FIMI Team Lead specializing in the detection and counteraction of disinformation and information influence operations, with a focus on Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector.
I hold a PhD in Political Science from the National Institute of International Security Problems under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, where my doctoral research focused on the settlement of ethno-political conflicts in the Southern Caucasus and their impact on regional security systems.
With over 15 years of experience in government research institutions—including the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the National Institute for Strategic Studies – I have led analytical teams and contributed to national policy on information security, challenges of hybrid warfare and development of strategic communications in Ukraine.
My current work centers on monitoring, analyzing, and debunking Russian disinformation on Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector.
My research interests include information security, disinformation, information influence, strategic communications, security sector reform, the study of threats and challenges of hybrid warfare, as well as the development of nuclear energy in Ukraine and globally as a key trend in decarbonization.