Difficult problems require innovative solutions
Wooden Horse Strategies gives Western companies, investors, and institutions the intelligence and the access to operate in Ukraine — political risk analysis, government relations, strategic communications, and research, from a Kyiv team of 27 years' standing.
Operating in Ukraine means making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information — about regulation, political risk, local partners, and public perception. We give you the actionable solutions instead.
Founded by Brian Mefford, an American with 27 years of in-country experience whose analysis has been cited by the Financial Times, NPR, and the Atlantic Council, WHS bridges Western business standards and Ukrainian political reality — so you're never guessing about the environment you're operating in. Our research has shaped national healthcare policy, helped elect candidates to office, and improved how cities are governed. Through the full-scale invasion, while others departed or reduced their presence, we stayed in Ukraine and worked harder.
5 Focused Areas of Expertise
Government Relations & Public Affairs
Engagement at the levels that matter, in a legally compliant manner.
Strategic Communications & Reputation Management
Research-driven messaging, press events, and public image management.
Public Opinion & Sociological Research
Polling and focus groups that have shaped policy and won campaigns.
Political Campaign Management & Strategy
Political campaign strategy and management that works in Eastern Europe.
Political Risk Analysis & Due Diligence
Rigorous assessments of partners, markets, and the political environment.
Analysis, written by the pros, not bots.
Echoes of Odysseus in Ukraine’s ingenious approach to the art of war
We should not fear a post-Putin Russia
OPINION: How the Election of the New Georgian Patriarch Can Impact Ukraine
Digital democracy is the key to staging wartime elections in Ukraine
Russian Orthodox Church declares “Holy War” against Ukraine and West
Founder Brian Mefford is a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Atlantic Council.
Let's talk first.
Tell us what you're weighing, and we'll give you an honest read on the risks and the openings.Initial consultations are free.