An open letter from scientists of Ukraine and diaspora

One year had passed since the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war is becoming long-lasting and even more brutal. Now is the time to reassess the role of Russian science in supporting the war and strengthen the resistance to Kremlin’s regime on the science front.

The full-scale war unleashed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine will soon enter its second year. With the help of allies around the world, donated military equipment, and provided humanitarian aid, as well as imposed economic and financial sanctions against the aggressor, Ukrainians have managed to withstand the initial attack and liberate large swathes of its territory. We are thankful to all countries, political leaders, and ordinary citizens who have taken the side of Ukraine and extended their helping hand!

What is happening in Ukraine is not just the largest war in Europe since the end of World War II. There is clear evidence of genocide perpetrated against the Ukrainians. The General Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine is investigating tens of thousands of war crimes and crimes against humanity (see links to original sources in^[1]). Towns of Bucha, Irpin, and Izium have become symbols of torture and mass executions of civilians.^[2] At the end of December 2022, the United Nations organization[3] officially verified the killings of about 7,000 civilians. This number includes more than 400 children.

There is a growing worldwide demand for establishing an international court to convict war criminals,¹ following the precedence set at the end World War II in Nuremberg. In November 2022, the European Commission announced that the European Union would work to establish a special court to investigate and prosecute Russia for the crime of aggression.^[4] At the same time, the Russian ruling elites remain determined to destroy Ukraine as an independent state. Particularly painful for Ukrainians is the fact that opinion polls conducted periodically among ordinary Russians show that an absolute majority, namely 74%,^[5] support the war in Ukraine.

When it comes to science and education, the Russian Federation is making every effort to destroy them by bombing museums, schools, universities, laboratories, and scientific infrastructure.^[6]^,[7] Many Ukrainian scientists have already been killed,^[8] others were forced to emigrate. The state’s ability to support research has sharply decreased.[9] A large number of countries launched programs to support scientists who stayed in Ukraine and those who have been forced to flee from Russian bombs and missiles. There are no limits to our gratitude for these efforts! But, unfortunately, this help cannot solve the problem and rather mitigates the consequences of the Russian invasion. The root cause lies in the Kremlin’s terroristic regime and its weaponization of so many functions of normal human life. In particular, we are talking about science.

Science is not beyond politics, scientific sanctions are needed

It is often said that “science is beyond politics” and “science has no borders”. In the current circumstances, it is impossible to agree with these idealized statements. As a scientific community, we would like to emphasize the concealed but significant role of Russian science in this terrible war.

First, science is especially important as the war has become protracted,^[10] and Russia is launching a massive campaign to keep its military-industrial complex up to the task. This effort is based on the newest scientific advances. Science is the backbone of technology, and without technology, it is impossible to produce advanced weaponry. A highly qualified workforce for military technology efforts is being trained at universities and research laboratories. In times of war, science itself becomes a weapon.

Second, let’s not forget that modern warfare is not just a war on the battlefield: it is as much a war for people’s hearts and minds. In that, the media component of science plays a very important role. Every new article showing an affiliation from Russian Federation, and every scientific presentation made “under the Russian flag” demonstrates that, despite its military aggression, Russia is still an accepted member of the international community. It provides a patina of normalcy and implied acceptance of the death and destruction being inflicted upon Ukraine and its citizens. But in truth, Russia is trying to destroy international law and bring back the rule of the strongest into the modern world. For Russian leaders, science is nothing more than a powerful tool used to achieve this goal.[11] Immediately after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Union of Rectors signed a joint statement of full support for President Putin and all his actions.^[12]

Thus, scientific sanctions are as appropriate and necessary as the economic sanctions that have been put in place by a coalition of nations committed to peace. Scientific sanctions should be implemented by the democratic forces of the free world to curb the growing aggression.

We firmly believe that similar to how Olympic athletes are banned to compete under the Russian flag, scientists affiliated with research centers in Russian Federation should not be allowed to participate in the fora that support the world-wide exchange of ideas and information. This embargo would apply to scientific publications, participation in international conferences, research programs, etc. – all forms of scientific activity. Acknowledgments of support from state grants awarded by Russian Federation should also be banned because they legitimize the regime responsible for the war and innumerable people killed, tortured, raped, deported, and displaced. Such bans will be fully consistent with the resolutions of the European Union^[13] and the Congress of the United States of America.^[14]

Since the first days of the Russian invasion, scholars in Ukraine and abroad have been calling on the international community to impose sanctions on Russian science.[15]^,[16],[17] Many such regulations have been made at the legislative level of the European Union and national levels.^{15,[18],[19],[20]} In some cases, conference organizers have banned speakers affiliated with the Russian Federation and Belarus. A prominent example is the uncompromising approach of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies,[21] the European Magnetism Association,[22] and the largest European magnetism conference – the Joint European Magnetic Symposium.^[23] The first steps to boycott Russian science have already been taken by leading scientific publishers.[24] Some journals have refused to consider submissions with an author of any nationality based at a Russian Federation institution.[25] We are convinced that these practices should be spread, and sanctions against Russian science should be strengthened.

We appeal to journal editorial boards, conference organizers, and general academic leadership to:

not accept scientific publications affiliated with Russian Federation institutions and/or funding agencies to scientific journals and conference proceedings;
terminate all subscriptions of institutions in Russian Federation to scientific literature;
ban access of Russian Federation institutions to international research infrastructure, including scientific equipment and scientific databases;
ban on sales of scientific equipment and supplies to Russian Federation;
deprive Russian Federation scientific organizations and their affiliates of access to any international research funding.

Everyone’s contribution is important

Political processes in society are usually inert. It often takes time for governments to take decisive steps. In such situations, a bottom-up approach can be a good complement. Right now, responsible scientists (including you!) have an opportunity to join their efforts and contribute to a speedy end of this bloody war and a victory over the aggressor. There are many actions that will have an impact:

if you receive an article with a Russian Federation affiliation or grant acknowledgment for review, you can refuse to review it. Please refer to this open letter and feel free to explain your decision by an unwillingness to normalize the image of the aggressor country;
you can avoid joint publications with and any visits to Russian academic institutions. Do not let your credentials support the Russian regime;
if you witness a scientific talk by a Russian Federation-affiliated organization at an international conference, you can demonstratively leave the room. Politicians and athletes from different countries have repeatedly done that during Russian presentations at international venues;

We write this letter in a time of war – a time when people have to take sides and be either cold or hot. Staying neutral regarding an unprovoked war of aggression can be viewed as tacitly supporting the aggressor. Someday the war will end. And, in the time of peace, scientific cooperation with Russia can be restored. However, peace will become possible only after the complete withdrawal of Russian occupation forces from the entire internationally recognized territory of Ukraine, the cessation of hostilities, and a fundamental change in Russian policy towards coexistence with other nations and respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms. Only then will scientific collaboration work to solve the global problems of humanity, and only then will scientific achievements serve exclusively peaceful purposes, as Nobel laureates called for immediately after the outbreak of the war.[26] But, until then, everyone will be forced by the current circumstances to decide how to react to the ongoing struggle. The actions we suggest are directed against the institutions of the aggressor. We sincerely urge you to consider them and contribute to the fight against war and terror.

We kindly ask the world scientific community to support this letter by signing here.

The full list of people supporting this letter can be found here.

List of signatories to the letter (in alphabetical order)

Vira Ageyeva	Prof., D.Sc. in Philology, National University “Kyiv Mohyla Academy”, Kyiv, Ukraine
Igor Anisimov	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Academician of the Higher School Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine; President of Ukrainian Physical Society
Ivan Avrutsky	Assoc. Prof., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA Graduate Program Director, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Vil Bakirov	Prof., D.Sc. in Sociology, Kharkiv Vasyl Karazin National University, Ukraine
Olha Bandrovska	Dr. Sci. in Philology, Professor of World Literature Department, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine
Larysa Baraban	Dr., Head of Department, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
Oksana Bilous	D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Researcher, Computational and Soft Matter Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Austria
Lyudmyla Borkovska	D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Senior Researcher, Leading Scientist of the Department of Sensor Systems, V. E. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Dmytro Bozhko	Prof. Dr., Department of Physics and Energy Science, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, USA
Oleksandr Cherednychenko	Prof., D.Sc. in Philology, Academician of the Higher School Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine
Anatoliy Chornous	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Vice-Rector for Scientific Work, Sumy State University, Sumy, Ukraine
Andrii Chumak	Univ.-Prof., Dr. habil., Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Austria
Galyna Dovbeshko	D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Prof., Institute of Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Olga Garaschuk	Prof., D.Sc. in Biology, Chair of the Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Tübingen, Germany; Elected Member of Academia Europaea; President of the German-Ukrainian Academic Society; Vice president of the German Physiological Society
Yuri Genenko	Prof. Dr., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Institute of Materials Science, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany
Yuri Gleba	Prof., Dr. Habil., D.Sc. in Biology, CEO, Nomad Bioscience GmbH, Munich, Germany, Academician of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Elected Member of Academia Europaea, Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences
Anatoliy Glushchenko	Prof. of Physics, Director, Center for Advanced Technologies & Optical Materials, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, USA
Yury Gogotsi	Prof., D.Sc., Department of Nanoelectronics end Modification Surface, Sumy State University, Ukraine; Charles T. and Ruth M. Bach Distinguished University Professor Director, A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute, USA
Olena Gomonay	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany
Nadiya Gula	Prof., D.Sc. in Biology, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Chief Researcher, O. V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, Kyiv, Ukraine
Kostyantyn Gusliyenko	Research Professor, Ph.D., University of the Basque Country, Spain
Olexandr Holovko	D.Sc. in History, Senior Researcher, M. S. Hrushevsky Institute of Ukrainian Archaeography and Source Studies National Academy of Science on Ukraine, Academician of Higher School Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Viktor Hrinchenko	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Academician of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Academician Honoris Causa of the Higher School Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Institute of Hydromechanics, National Academy of Science of Ukraine
Ihor Huk	Em. Univ. Prof. Dr. – Medical University of Vienna, Foreign Member of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts
Vitalii Ivanov	Dr., Reseascher, Institute of Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
Volodymyr Ivanytsia	Prof., D.Sc. in Biology, Corresponding member of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Academician of the Higher School Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Vice-Rector, Illya Mechnikov Odesa National University, Ukraine
Glib Kakazei	Dr., Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal
Roman Khymyn	Dr., Researcher, Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Oleksiy Kolezhuk	Prof., D.Sc., Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Head of the Scientific Committee of the National Council of Ukraine on Science and Technology Development
Lada Kolomiyets	Prof., D.Sc. in Philology, Academician of the Higher School Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine / Dartmouth College, USA
Oleksandr Kolomys	Ph.D., Senior Researcher, V. E. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Serhiy Komisarenko	Prof., D.Sc., Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Academician-Secretary, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Director, O. V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, Kyiv, Ukraine
Maksym Kovalenko	Prof., Dr., ETH Zurich, Switzerland, Werner Prize, Ruziska Prize, Dan Maydan Prize
Alexander Krivchikov	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Leading Researcher of the B.I. Verkin Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Sergiy Kvit	Prof., D.Sc. in Philology, President of National University “Kyiv Mohyla Academy”, Kyiv, Ukraine
Alexey Ladokhin	Prof., D.Sc. in Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical School, USA
Yaroslav Lepich	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Academician of the Higher School Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Director of Research and Tutorial Center of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine at I. Mechnikov Odesa National University
Khrystyna Levchenko	Dr., Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Austria
Vadym Loktiev	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Academic Secretary of the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Denys Makarov	Dr., Head of Department, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
Sergii Mamykin	Dr., Head of Department, Viсe-Director of V. E. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Anna Morozovska	D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Leading Scientific Researcher, Institute of Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Yurii Naidyuk	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Corresponding member of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology; Director of the B.I. Verkin Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Oleksandr Nakonechniy	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics President of the Higher School Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Anatoliy Opanasyuk	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Head of the Department of Electronics and Computer Technology, Sumy State University, Ukraine
Heorhii Papakin	Prof., D.Sc. in History, Director of M. S. Hrushevsky Institute of Archaeography and Source Studies National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Academician of Higher School Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Anatoliy Pinchuk	Prof., Department of Physics and Energy Science, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, USA; Director of the Center for Plasmonics, Nanophotonics and Metamaterials
Maksym Pogorielov	Prof., D.Sc. in Medical Science, Head of Biomedical Research Centre, Sumy State University, Ukraine; Researcher in Laboratory of Optical Biosensors and Functional Nanomaterials, University of Latvia
Oleksandr Prokopenko	Prof. D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Chair, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine
Oleksandr Pronkevych	Prof., D.Sc., Black Sea Petro Mohyla National University, Mykolaуiv, Ukraine
Ivan Protsenko	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Head of the Department of Electronics, General and Applied Physics, Sumy State University, Ukraine; Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine
Liudmyla Prystupa	Prof., D.Sc. in Medical Sciences, Head of the Department of Internal Medicine with Respiratory Medicine Center, Sumy State University, Ukraine
Sergiy Ryabchenko	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Head of Identification Committee for Science of Ukraine
Volodymyr Sadivnychyi	Prof., D.Sc. in Social Communications, Head of the Department of Journalism and Philology, Sumy State University, Ukraine
Rada Savkina	D.Sc., Senior Researcher, V. E. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine; Prof. at National University “Kyiv Mohyla Academy”, Kyiv, Ukraine
Oleksandr Serha (a.k.a. Alexander Serga)	Priv.-Doz. Dr. habil., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Department of Physics, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern, Germany
Rostyslav Serha	Ph.D. Student, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Austria
Halyna Shcherbata	Prof., D.Sc. in Genetics, Institute of Cell Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
Volodymyr Shcherbatyy	Univ.-Doz., Dr. med. dent., Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
Tetiana Shestopalova	Prof. D.Sc. in Philology, Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University, Mykolaуiv, Ukraine
Natalia Starchenko	Prof. D.Sc. in History, Senior Researcher of M. S. Hrushevsky Institute of Ukrainian Archaeography and Source Studies National Academy of Science of Ukraine
Valeriy Stepankov	Prof., D.Sc. in History, Direcror of the Department of World History, Kamianets-Podilskyj University, Ukraine
Maksym Strikha	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine; First Vice-President Higher School Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Leonid Sukhodub	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Head of the Department Biophysics, Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Biomolecular Engineering, Sumy State University, Ukraine; Сorresponding Мember of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine
Nataliia Tataryn	V. E. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Nataliya Torkut	Prof., D.Sc. in Philology, Academician of the Higher School Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia National University, Ukraine
Oleksandr Tovstolytkin	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Director of the Institute of Magnetism, Kyiv, Ukraine
Yaroslav Tserkovnyak	Prof., Dr., University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA
Vitaliy Vasyuchka	Dr., Senior Scientist, Department of Physics, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern, Germany
Iryna Vavilova	D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Head of Department of the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Anatoii Veklych	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine
Yevgen Venger	Prof. D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology; Head of the Department of Sensor Systems, V. E. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Roman Verba	D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Department Chair, Institute of Magnetism, Kyiv, Ukraine
Alexei Verkhratsky	Prof. of Neurophysiology, D.Sc., Member of Academia Europaea, Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Member of Real Academia Nacional de Farmacia of Spain, Member of Polish Academy of Sciences; The University of Manchester, UK
Stanislav Vilchinskii	Prof., D.Sc., Ph.D., Head of National Research Foundation of Ukraine, Head of Quantum Field Theory and Comomicrophysics Department Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine
Rostyslav Vloch	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, Director of Institute of Physical Optics, Lviv, Ukraine
Maksym Yarema	Prof., Dr., ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Oksana Yastrubchak	Dr., V. E. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Yaroslav Yatskiv	D.Sc., Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Director of the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Аnatoly Zagorodny	Prof., D.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Iryna Zhabchenko	Prof., Dr. of Philosophy & Medicine, Head of the Department of Pathology of Pregnancy and Childbirth, State University “Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology named after Acad. O.M. Lukyanova National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine”
Mykola Zhulynsky	Prof., D.Sc. in Philology, Director of the Shevchenko Institute of Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine