About us
NorthAxis Advisory is a Canadian-founded defense and intelligence consultancy uniquely positioned at the intersection of modern conflict, frontline experience, and strategic advisory. Based in Kyiv and operating across Ukraine, Canada, and the EU, we offer tailored solutions in security, risk advisory, drone and CUAS operations to provide agile, effective support for government, military, and commercial clients.
Who We Are
Founded by Justin Smith, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran and former advisor with Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Directorate, NorthAxis Advisory draws from over a decade of high-impact service in active conflict environments.
Our strength lies in our team. Each member of the Northaxis team brings a proven track record in defence, intelligence, and field operations—operating as one seamless unit. We deploy cross-functional teams to meet complex client requirements, whether in planning, integration, training, or mission-ready delivery.
Our Mission
To provide agile, field-informed defense and security solutions that bridge operational capability with strategic foresight — empowering both governments and private sector partners operating in volatile or complex theaters.
What Sets Us Apart
Embedded Experience: We don’t operate from the sidelines. Our advisory work is grounded in lived operational experience.
Bilateral Operations: Legally registered and insured in both Canada and Ukraine, with additional VAT registration in the EU, we operate across jurisdictions with full regulatory compliance.
Trusted by Leaders: Supporting field commanders, international partners, and civilian agencies alike, we maintain a growing portfolio of successful collaborations and client testimonials.
Features:
Justin Smith, Canadian Artillery Veteran & Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Veteran
🔴 Featured In: The New York Times
The Infrared Hunt for Russian Troops in the Battle for Bakhmut
Published December 15, 2022 | Reported by Thomas Gibbons-Neff | Photography by Tyler Hicks
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“The team member charged with finding Russian targets is a former artilleryman from Canada, who goes by the call sign Bear.”
During the Battle of Bakhmut, Northaxis founder Justin Smith served as a Combat Control Team Leader, coordinating artillery fire in real time using advanced thermal surveillance systems. His actions were chronicled by The New York Times, offering a rare glimpse into the cutting-edge tactics and international collaboration shaping Ukraine’s modern defense.
🔴 Featured In: The Globe and Mail
Stakes Rise for Ukraine and Its Canadian Volunteers as World Interest Wanes
Published April 15, 2023 | Reported by Mark MacKinnon
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“There are people in Ukraine who are not just fighting, but shaping the defense. Justin Smith is one of them.”
As a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces and embedded defense advisor to Ukrainian military intelligence, Justin Smith’s work and leadership were profiled in The Globe and Mail. The article sheds light on the broader ecosystem of Canadian volunteers and civilian specialists supporting Ukraine’s war effort, with Northaxis Advisory playing a leading facilitation role.
Contact us
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