‘Ukrainians are a strong nation – we persevere’: Four years on scientists remain resilient in face of adversity

It’s been four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Those researchers who have remained continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience and adaptability while also contending with the emotional and physical strains of living through a war. Research continues despite frequent power outages, freezing temperatures, damaged infrastructure and shrinking teams as friends and colleagues enlist in the military or seek safer employment.

The situation varies greatly from city to city, says Vitalii Palchykov, director of the Research Institute of Chemistry and Geology at Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, who is currently on a Fulbright Scholarship in the US. Things are better for science in Kyiv and Lviv than in Dnipro, Kharkiv or Odesa. Universities in cities nearer the frontline, for example, deliver most lectures online, although practical classes often require students to attend in person, despite the risks involved.