Paris, A recent UNESCO report has estimated the cost of restoring Ukraine’s damaged public scientific infrastructure at over $1.26 billion, following the destruction inflicted since the war began in February 2022. The study highlights the severe impact on 1,443 buildings and laboratories, alongside 750 pieces of scientific equipment, marking a significant setback for the Ukrainian scientific community, which has also seen a reduction in funding.
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the extensive damage includes the destruction of buildings belonging to 177 scientific institutions, with universities bearing the brunt of the losses at a repair cost of approximately $980.5 million. The Kharkiv region, in particular, has suffered the most, with substantial damages reported at the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University and the O. M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy.
The loss extends beyond structures to include critical scientific and technical equipment, with 643 items damaged beyond repair, impacting a wide range of research activities. The restoration of this essential research equipment is estimated at $45.9 million. Additionally, the war has caused significant disruptions to scientific studies, including those related to local biodiversity and ecology, with 18 scientific institutes forced to relocate due to the temporary occupation of territories by Russian forces.
One of the most concerning aspects highlighted in the report is the damage to the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants near Zaporizhzhia, where essential monitoring equipment has been stolen or destroyed. This poses a major security threat not only to Ukraine but to the wider region as well.
The conflict has led to a dispersion of Ukrainian scientists both within the country and abroad, with a notable decrease in the number of researchers employed in Ukraine’s public research sector. The war has also prompted a significant reduction in science funding, with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine experiencing a 48% budget cut, severely impacting research programs and teams.
UNESCO’s report sheds light on the broader consequences of the war on Ukraine’s scientific capabilities, including decreased publishing activity and international collaboration. A meeting convened by UNESCO on March 11 at its headquarters in Paris aims to discuss the study’s findings and explore further support for Ukraine’s scientific community.