Arendal, Norway | 10-14 August 2026

From August 10 to 14, the coastal city of Arendal, Norway, hosted its largest annual political and public forum, Arendalsuka. ICUV was represented at the event by its co-founder, Hanna Hopko.

Every year, the forum brings together politicians, business leaders, academics, and civil society figures to address pressing global issues. This year, Ukraine was among the key topics on the agenda.

Exposing Russian Propaganda & Historical Appropriation

On August 10, the forum addressed Russia’s use of propaganda and disinformation as instruments of war during the panel discussion “Norway and Ukraine: On the right side of history?”. Hanna Hopko detailed how Russia has weaponized narratives for years—erasing Ukrainian history by claiming Kyivan Rus as its own, justifying the occupation of Crimea, and using the church to spread Kremlin propaganda.

“This is not just genocide against Ukrainians. This is the war in Europe. This is the war of Europe. And the faster we win together, the cheaper. And it’s not just about money. It’s about not allowing Russians to attack your next generations by poisoning—like disinformation, cognitive instruments of warfare. If you look at the Russian budget, they increase the budget for propaganda. They increase the budget, especially targeting Europe,” stated Hanna Hopko.

In conclusion, she urged international partners to adopt Ukraine’s experience in countering disinformation and invest in Ukraine’s victory, stressing that a European security architecture that includes Ukraine offers the strongest defense against Russian hostility.

Investments in Defense: European Security Begins in Ukraine

On August 11, Hanna Hopko took part in two additional key events: the “Ukrainian Morning” and the panel discussion “Defence Cooperation with Nordic Countries,” organized by Carpathian Sea Democracy Week and Nordic Europe Hub Ukraine within the framework of the Ukrainian Democracy and Victory Hub. 

During the Ukrainian Morning, the core focus centered on expanding and investing in Ukraine’s defense sector as a fundamental investment in European security. Ukraine possesses unique expertise and firsthand battlefield experience, which it is ready to share with partners to build a safer continent.

“The capacity of the Ukrainian defence industry is already estimated at 55 billion dollars. The question is no longer whether Ukraine can produce. The question is how fast our partners are ready to invest in scaling up this production,” emphasized Hanna Hopko.

Key Takeaways from “Defence Cooperation with Nordic Countries”:

• A New Security Architecture: The war has changed everything. Ukraine’s victory relies not only on weaponry but also on the ability of state institutions, business, society, and the defense sector to act as a resilient system and adapt faster than the enemy. Ukraine is ready to share its unique expertise with Norway and Nordic partners.
• Preparation Over Fear: With 70% of Norwegians fearing war due to threats from Russia and China in the High North, the answer lies in learning from and integrating Ukraine’s battle-tested experience and innovation.
• Time to Accelerate: While Russia receives ballistic missiles and ammunition from North Korea, Iran, and China, the democratic world must respond and accelerate aid to Ukraine much faster.

We are deeply grateful to our Norwegian partners for the excellent organization of Arendalsuka. These days at the forum clearly demonstrated that Ukraine is not merely a recipient of aid, but a full-fledged security partner whose battlefield experience and expertise are critical to the entire European continent.