Open letter from ukrainian scientists to the international scientific community

Читати українською мовою можна за цим посиланням.

We, Ukrainian scientists, are reaching out to you with the deepest sorrow and, at the same time, with hope for international scientific community’s support. For over four years of full-scale war, Russian Federation has been systematically destroying our universities, academic institutes, laboratories, scientific libraries, museums, research centers, as well as high-tech equipment. It destroys our science, our culture and our identity.

The latest large-scale strike has once again caused significant damage to the research institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, in particular the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, which only recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Significant losses have recently been suffered by research institutions in Kharkiv, Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia, all of which are renowned for their scientific achievements - have already faced destruction. In addition to the buildings, which are often of historical significance, unique modern scientific equipment, biological collections, archives, and libraries are also being destroyed, and with them the results of many years of research and international scientific projects. Such losses are irreparable both for Ukraine and for global scientific community as a whole.

Despite all difficulties, Ukrainian scientists continue to perform research, publish their results in international journals, participate in international projects, and contribute to the development of global science. We greatly appreciate the solidarity and support of our colleagues from around the world and are sincerely grateful to them for this. However, given the scale of the damage inflicted on our scientific infrastructure, we need a more proactive response from the international academic community.

1. Condemn publicly the systematic destruction of Ukraine’s scientific infrastructure and firmly emphasize that attacks on civilian scientific institutions qualify as war crimes.

2. Release statements of support for Ukrainian science and Ukrainian scientists.

3. Initiate international monitoring and documentation of the destruction of Ukrainian scientific institutions as a part of efforts to protect the world’s scientific heritage.

4. Contribute to the development of international programs for rebuilding Ukraine’s scientific infrastructure, laboratories, and research equipment once the war has ended.

5. Expand programs for academic cooperation, joint research, grants, internships, and support for Ukrainian scientists and young researchers.

6. Raise the issue of protection for science and scientific infrastructure during armed conflicts at the level of international organizations, governments, and donor institutions.

Science is the common heritage of humanity. Defending science means defending the civilization’s future. The intentional destruction of scientific institutions violates the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, as well as the principles of freedom of scientific research and international academic cooperation.

We are confident that the voices of leading international organisations and scientific societies can draw the attention of the global scientific community to such a matter and help protect Ukrainian scientists. 

We appeal to your solidarity with the Ukrainian scientific community and your support efforts to preserve its scientific potential.

We are sincerely grateful to all scientists, academies, universities, scientific societies, international organizations, and charitable foundations that are already supporting Ukrainian science during this extremely difficult time.

Prof. Anatoly ZAGORODNY

President 

National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 

Prof. Ihor HRYNYK

President

National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine 

Prof. Vasyl LAZORYSHYNETS

President

National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine 

Prof. Vasyl KREMEN

President

National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine 

Prof. Victor SYDORENKO

President 

National Academy of Arts of Ukraine 

Prof. Volodymyr ZHURAVEL

President 

National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine 

Dr. Oleksandra ANTONIUK

Head

Scientific Committee of the National Council of Ukraine

for the Development of Science and Technology 

Kyiv, July 2026