Over the years of full-scale aggression against Ukraine, international sanctions and the isolation of Russian scientists from foreign colleagues have “set Russian science back” by years. The lack of opportunities for Russians to access information on modern innovative research and achievements only accelerates the country’s scientific decline.
To continue their careers, Russian scientists are often forced to emigrate. The number of researchers with academic degrees in Russia has decreased by 20% over the past ten years—PhDs and candidate scientists have declined across all federal districts. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, this process has only accelerated. Neuroscience, mathematics, biochemistry, pharmacology, medicine, and physics have been the most affected fields.
At the same time, there is a steady decline in the number of Russian researchers with academic degrees due to an aging workforce. Young people no longer see a scientific career as promising. Between 2019 and 2024, the number of postgraduate graduates decreased 2.5 times.
