6 2 / 2022 // LEOPOLDINA / NEWS
Support for Ukraine , sanctions against Russia
Reorientation of science diplomacy in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Illustration : Adobe Stock / © Fotoldee / © PikePicture
Sign of solidarity : the Ukrainian flag in front of the main building of the Leopoldina at Jägerberg in Halle ( Saale )/ Germany .
Image : Markus Scholz | Leopoldina
On 24 February , the Russian Federation launched a war of aggression against sovereign Ukraine . The war has claimed numerous human victims and caused widespread destruction – including to educational and science infrastructure .
Strict sanctions against Russia have been imposed in the wake of Russian aggression against Ukraine . They are also affecting the science sector . On 25 February , the Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany ceased all relations with Russia and expressed its solidarity with Ukraine . This type of measure is unprecedented in the history of German education and science .
At the same time , this decision is an expression of solidarity with our partners in Eastern Europe who are fearful of more hostile acts on the part of Russia . Russia ’ s actions have also been condemned at an international level . In its function as the current Chair , the Leopoldina initiated a joint statement by the academies of the G7 , which was published on 2 March . It strongly condemns the Russian attack on Ukraine and pledges full solidarity to the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine ( NAN UKR ).
A call for solidarity
The Leopoldina has ceased all collaboration projects with Russian partners , in particular with the Russian Academy of Sciences ( RAN ). This also includes the indefinite suspension of all activities that are part of the German-Russian road map .
The preparations to establish a German-Russian Council of Young Scientists and Innovators as part of the partnership between the Leopoldina and RAN , which had been underway since 2021 , have been halted , and the German- Russian Science Day has been cancelled . Since the beginning of the war , there has been massive destruction of Ukraine ‘ s education and research infrastructure . The number of civilian casualties among students and researchers cannot be fully determined . Thousands and thousands have left the country or are internally displaced .
Even under these extreme conditions , every effort is being made to maintain research and teaching operations by virtual means . NAN UKR calls on the international scientific community to stand in solidarity with Ukraine and to boycott all cooperation with Russia . It asks for support with post-war reconstruction and points to the looming problem of brain drain .