For journalist and activist Maksym Eristavi, defence isn’t just a military term. It’s a mindset. And it starts at home — literally. In this episode of Visionary, recorded at Here East and hosted by Georgina Godwin, Maksym lays out how Ukrainians have turned innovation, identity, and DIY resilience into a powerful toolkit — and why Europeans urgently need to follow suit.

From his work exposing Russia’s colonial legacy to supporting frontline tech startups, Eristavi argues that Europe is still clinging to a peacetime mindset — and dangerously underestimating how fast things are changing. “You don’t wait until the door’s kicked in to install a lock,” he says. That applies to drones, defence investment, and even learning how to go a day without electricity.

This is an episode not just about Ukraine, but about Europe’s future — and why innovation and resilience are skills we all need to master.

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