The cost of restoring Ukraine's state scientific infrastructure, destroyed during Russian aggression, amounts to over $1.26 billion USD.
This was reported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
"According to the new study published today by UNESCO and the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, a total of 1,443 buildings belonging to 177 scientific institutions have been damaged or destroyed in the past two years. Restoring these buildings will cost more than $ 1.21 billion – including $ 980.5 million for universities alone as these have suffered the greatest losses," the statement said.
It is noted that the scientific infrastructure of Kharkiv region suffered the most, with the National Yaroslav Mudryi Law University (116.5 million USD) and the Kharkiv National University of Urban Economy named after O. M. Beketov (104.1 million USD) suffering the most damage.
According to the study, a significant portion of the equipment was destroyed or stolen. More than 750 units of scientific and technical equipment were damaged, of which 643 units are irreparable. This includes equipment used in a wide range of research activities. The total cost of restoring research equipment is estimated at $45.9 million USD.
"The temporary occupation of territories by Russian forces is also having a major impact: 18 scientific institutes have had to relocate, some of which were conducting studies on local biodiversity and ecology which cannot continue remotely," the statement said.
Particular concern was expressed about the situation surrounding the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, located near Zaporizhzhia. Equipment for monitoring the state of the nuclear industry was stolen or destroyed, including a unique radiological laboratory that monitors radiation levels.
According to the study, the war has also scattered Ukrainian scientists across the country and even abroad, and the conditions of their work have deteriorated. In February 2022, there were 88,629 researchers working in the state research sector. Since then, 12% (10,429) of these researchers and professors from 524 institutions and universities have been forced to relocate to other places within Ukraine (4,887) or abroad (5,542). Currently, the largest number of Ukrainian scientists in exile are in Germany and Poland. The number of scientists employed in Ukraine's state scientific research sector has decreased by 4,958 individuals (5.3%).
Additionally, funding for science in Ukraine has significantly decreased due to the war. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross domestic expenditure on research and development from 2021 to 2022 decreased by 38.5% - from $2,019.5 million to $1,242.1 million.
