Ukraine's Scientific Community Has Lost Up to a Fifth of Its Researchers to the War

The State of Scientific Research in Ukraine

According to Главком: Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Denys Kurbatov, stated in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine that Russia's full-scale invasion has caused 15-20% of the nation's scientists to cease their research work. Of this group, 8% have left the country, while the others have changed professions. This brain drain presents a significant challenge to Ukraine's long-term recovery and innovation capacity.

Ukraine's research personnel are divided into two main groups: academic scientists and university-based research and teaching staff. The first group numbers roughly 25,000 individuals, and together with the second, the total research community is approximately 80,000 strong. Despite active scientific work, Ukraine has the lowest number of researchers per thousand people in its region. This decline in researcher density had been ongoing since the 1990s until the full-scale war began.

"The decline in this indicator continued from the 1990s until the start of the full-scale war. We have now somewhat stabilized, but more work is needed. I am convinced that restructuring Ukraine's economy into a value-added economy will change this situation."

Denys Kurbatov

Meanwhile, 80-85% of scientists remain and continue their work in Ukraine despite the difficult conditions. The Deputy Minister also highlighted the age structure of the scientific workforce: the largest group is researchers aged 40-60, followed by those over 60, with the smallest group being young researchers under 40.

A Pilot Project for the Science Sector

To improve the situation, a major pilot project-a project-based PhD program-is launching this year. This initiative plans a significant increase in postgraduate scholarships and will provide funding for dissertation research, including materials, travel, and reagents.

"We are already taking steps to encourage more young people to choose science. In particular, this year we are launching a major pilot project-a project-based PhD program. Within its framework, we are substantially increasing postgraduate scholarships, for the first time providing funding for dissertation research (for materials, travel, and reagents), ensuring the interest of the scientific supervisor, and shaping research topics according to the country's needs."

Denys Kurbatov

It is also expected that the cost of contract-based tuition at higher education institutions will continue to rise in 2026.

The situation in Ukraine's scientific sector reflects the profound challenges the country faces during wartime. The loss of a significant portion of its researchers could negatively impact future innovation and economic recovery. The launch of the project-based PhD program and increased funding may be a crucial step in attracting young scientists to research, which in turn could help strengthen Ukraine's scientific potential.

As the scientific community in Ukraine grapples with the repercussions of the ongoing conflict, the government's educational reforms play a crucial role in shaping the future of higher education. These changes aim to address the pressing need for skilled professionals amid the brain drain affecting the research sector. For more on how these new training and admission limits are set to transform the educational landscape, visit the recent updates from the Education Ministry.