Scotland–Ukraine Partnership 2025–26: Consul Andrii Madzianovskyi on Reconstruction, Trade, and Academic Cooperation

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2026/02/18

Andrii Madzianovskyi is the Consul of Ukraine in Scotland, heading the Edinburgh mission at 8 Windsor Street and representing Kyiv’s interests across Scotland. In February 2025, he gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament on support for Ukrainians in Scotland, sanctions, and diplomacy. In May 2025, he signed a Scotland–Ukraine memorandum of understanding to deepen trade and investment ties, coinciding with the “Rebirth of Ukraine” UK trade mission that held events in Edinburgh. His portfolio spans consular services, reconstruction partnerships, and community engagement; he has publicly highlighted the work of Dnipro Kids relocating and supporting Ukrainian children in Scotland, and engages Scottish firms contributing to rebuilding, such as Cairnhill Structures’ bridge projects near Kyiv.

In this interview with Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Madzianovskyi discussed Ukraine’s deepening partnership with Scotland under the 2025–26 Memorandum of Understanding. He detailed joint reconstruction priorities including bridges, roads, renewable energy, and housing, highlighting the roles of Scottish SMEs and firms like Cairnhill Structures. Madzianovskyi outlined educational exchanges between universities, investment in green infrastructure, and measures supporting Ukrainians in Scotland. He also addressed sanctions evasion risks, private-sector accountability, and humanitarian efforts like Dnipro Kids. Throughout, he emphasized that cooperation between governments, academia, and industry transforms solidarity into tangible reconstruction and long-term economic resilience for Ukraine.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: From the Scotland–Ukraine MoU for 2025–26, what deliverables will flow?

Andrii Madzianovskyi: The Scotland–Ukraine Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 2025–26 sets out a number of specific tasks and deliverables that are already being implemented or will soon be implemented:

A joint roadmap for infrastructure reconstruction will be developed, focusing on bridges, roads and housing in affected regions of Ukraine — in particular, projects such as bridges in the Kyiv region, which are already supported by Scottish firms such as Cairnhill Structures.

Support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Scotland that are involved in reconstruction projects: power supply, energy conservation, modular housing, water supply systems. This may include technology transfer, equipment supply and training of the local workforce.

Educational and academic exchanges: universities in Scotland and Ukraine will cooperate in research and training engineers, energy specialists and green transformation specialists.

Attracting investment in climate infrastructure restoration, in particular projects related to flood protection, renewable energy, solar and wind power stations.

Strengthening consular services and support for the Ukrainian community in Scotland — improving services, organising the resettlement of children, providing humanitarian aid, etc.

I will say even more: a similar agreement is planned to be signed on 23 October this year in Belfast with the authorities and businesses of Northern Ireland. So all of the above will also apply to our Northern Irish friends and partners.

As the old saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.” So, the deliverables from the MoU are not just signed papers, but specific projects, working groups, investments, and, importantly, monitoring of implementation.

Jacobsen: Re: “Rebirth of Ukraine,” which infrastructure projects are “investable” for Scottish partners?

Madzianovskyi: There are several key areas where Scottish companies can invest in Ukraine’s infrastructure, and it’s not just big business — often medium or micro-format projects that can deliver both profit and real results:

– Bridges and road infrastructure: after the destruction caused by the war, many bridges, roads and access roads to towns and villages need to be rebuilt. This is where the experience of Scottish engineers comes in handy.

–    Modular housing and temporary accommodation: projects that can use quick prefabricated structures — Scottish technology, materials and design can be applied here.

– Energy and renewable energy: solar farms, wind turbines, energy storage systems — Scotland has a strong position here, and this sector is ‘green’ and attractive.

– Water supply and sewage systems in regions that have been affected by shelling or have destroyed infrastructure — these areas require modernisation, cleaning and connection to networks.

– Digital infrastructure: internet, communications, telecommunications, connecting educational institutions — projects that can be implemented quickly and with relatively little risk.

For example, there are companies in Scotland that make quick prefabricated containers for modular housing; they could adapt this technology to the climate in Ukraine. And also — the practice of public-private partnerships: Scottish investors + Ukrainian authorities + international donors.

Jacobsen: What are the clearest bid pathways for Scottish SMEs into Ukraine’s reconstruction pipeline?

Madzianovskyi: Scottish SMEs have several ways to participate in Ukraine’s reconstruction. Here is what I see as the most realistic:

– Participation in tenders announced by state or municipal structures in Ukraine: the Ukrainian government and local councils publish tenders for the reconstruction of roads, bridges and residential buildings. SMEs must register on the state anti-corruption online platform Prozorro or other official portals and submit their proposals.

–    Partnerships with Ukrainian companies: instead of running a project on their own, Scottish SMEs can become part of a consortium with a Ukrainian partner — this reduces risk and lowers language and regulatory barriers.

– Cooperation with international donors and funds that finance reconstruction (e.g. the EU, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, international humanitarian funds). Scottish SMEs can participate as suppliers or contractors in grant projects.

– Initiatives for intergovernmental agreements and MoUs, such as the one signed, which provides certain preferences and structures for businesses on both sides. This could be a reason to create special fairs, forums, and business missions where SMEs can find contacts and familiarise themselves with standards.

– Involvement in renewable energy and green infrastructure projects, as such projects often have international funding and are open to cooperation with existing technology companies

Jacobsen: You gave committee evidence on 27 February 2025. What rights have advanced for the ~30,000 Ukrainians in Scotland?

Madzianovskyi: When I gave evidence, one of the key topics was protecting the rights of Ukrainians in Scotland. Here is what has been achieved and where there is still work to be done:

• Improved access to consular services: waiting times have been reduced, online services have been introduced for some requests, and mobile consular days have been organised in the regions.
• Support for displaced children: Scottish and Northern Irish schools and nurseries accept Ukrainian children, and language adaptation and psychological support programmes have been funded.
•   Social rights: Ukrainians have gained better access to quality medical services and social services, and volunteer organisations that help with housing and employment are supported.
•   Right to work: those with the appropriate visas or status are able to work legally, and the Scottish and Northern Irish authorities in many cases assist with the recognition of qualifications or finding work.
• Improvements in status/visa permits: those affected by the war may be eligible for permit extensions, humanitarian visas or other forms of protection, although this often depends on their individual status.

Let’s talk about the proverb: ‘Time is precious,’ as in law — those who do not act quickly in extraordinary circumstances may lose opportunities. Unfortunately, not everything is perfect; the economic situation in Scotland is more stable than in Ukraine at the moment, but there are challenges — inflation, housing prices, energy. In Ukraine, the war is destroying infrastructure, but strength of spirit and international support give hope.

Jacobsen: You praised Dnipro Kids at Holyrood. What best-practice lessons should Scotland scale for youth integration?

Madzianovskyi: The story of Dnipro Kids is truly inspiring. Steven Carr and his like-minded colleagues have once again proven with their shining example that even in this cruel world, there is always room for good deeds. I always remember the wisdom from Steven Spielberg’s famous masterpiece Schindler’s List, where the key phrase was: ‘By saving one human life, you save the whole world.’ Sixty-four Ukrainian orphans were saved thanks to the heroism of Dnipro Kids and their love for their neighbours. We work closely not only with them, but also with similar charities in Scotland and Northern Ireland. There are many of them, and we are incredibly grateful to all of them for their kindness. Among our main common goals and achievements in this area, I would highlight the following:

• Providing a safe environment for children — housing, support for parents or guardians, psychological support. Children who have experienced war, trauma and instability need not only a roof over their heads, but also emotional security.
•   Language and cultural programmes: schools and courses where children can learn English but also preserve their Ukrainian language and culture. It’s like ‘two rivers running in one valley’ — two cultures can coexist like two sources in one valley.
• Mentoring and volunteer support: older Ukrainians or Scots with a good understanding who can be mentors, friends, and help them navigate Scottish life.
• Integration through sport and art: clubs, music, sport, volleyball, football — children easily bond through play; it breaks down barriers.
•   Partnerships with local communities and schools so that integration is not ‘top-down’ but through cooperation — both children and parents feel part of the community.

Jacobsen: Where are the current UK/Scotland sanctions-evasion pressure points?

Madzianovskyi: Unfortunately, over the years of war, Russia, the aggressor country, has adapted to countering the civilised world in the economic sphere. This primarily concerns actions taken to circumvent the economic sanctions imposed on the aggressor. We see that there are risks of goods transiting through third countries, re-registering companies, using ‘grey imports’ and illegal chains, where sanctioned goods arrive through countries that do not exercise strict control. We observe financial flows: the use of cryptocurrencies, offshore accounts and shell companies can allow circumvention of banking sanctions or financial blocking.

The infamous so-called ‘Russian shadow merchant fleet’, maritime transport: shipping via sea routes or changing ports of destination to avoid sanctions regimes.

Russia and its allies, authoritarian and dictatorial regimes, mutually supply technologies or components that have military applications or dual uses — some companies may have been forced to change routes or use partners in countries with weak controls.

•   In the UK, attention is now focused on customs checks, high-tech product controls and compliance with export rules. There are cases where sanctions have been formal, but in practice controls are insufficient.
•   In the UK, attention is now focused on customs inspections, high-tech product controls, and export compliance. There are cases where sanctions were formal, but in practice, controls were insufficient.

Jacobsen: Which Scotland–Ukraine university/energy/advanced-manufacturing tie-ups best demonstrate technology transfer?

Madzianovskyi: It is my firm belief that the academic community of universities around the world has always been, is, and will continue to be the future of any nation. After all, it is in universities that knowledge, experience, and ideas are born. This is where the future of states and nations, the future of humanity, is produced. Therefore, establishing international cooperation between the academic communities of our countries is one of the most important issues of our cooperation. Exchange of students and teaching staff, holding conferences, symposiums, joint scientific research. And this applies not only to the humanities or technical applied sciences. This year and next, as a representative of Ukraine, I have identified university cooperation as a priority. We will try to focus on the following:

• Cooperation between universities – for example, Scottish technical universities or universities with strong STEM programmes can transfer knowledge on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. This could include teacher exchanges, joint courses, and laboratories.
• Advanced manufacturing: for example, companies working with metal structures, bridges, 3D printing, and high-precision robots can help in the production of components for the restoration of destroyed objects, reducing dependence on imports.
• Energy: joint projects on solar and wind energy production, energy storage systems, smart grids.
• Examples: Cairnhill Structures, which is already working on a bridge; universities that could help with the design of sustainable buildings. This is not only technology transfer, but also ‘on-the-job training’ for local engineers.

Jacobsen: What is the objective assessment of the private-sector impact on Ukraine’s reconstruction KPIs?

Madzianovskyi: The private sector has already made a significant contribution: from construction companies, manufacturers of materials and technologies, to logistics services. Without them, reconstruction would not be moving forward. The KPIs are important: the speed of road reconstruction, the number of bridges, the number of houses rebuilt, public-private cooperation, and investment volumes — the private sector is a key player in achieving these indicators.

However, there is a gap: there is often a lack of transparency, funds are blocked due to corruption risks or bureaucracy, and private companies face logistical and security challenges.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, many businesses have the potential to participate, especially if stable conditions are created: legal protection, insurance, guarantees, clear contracts.

And of course, to paraphrase the proverb, ‘No man is an island’ — private companies cannot work alone; in parallel with state and international partners, they create chains that produce results. Therefore, we will focus on mutual support.

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Andrii.

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