Staff Reports
The Washington Examiner reported that it will cost Ukraine more than $1 billion to rebuild the scientific infrastructure damaged during the first two years of Russia’s war with Ukraine, UNESCO revealed on Monday. A whopping 1,443 buildings and labs owned by 177 universities and organizations have been destroyed or damaged by the war. Not to mention, 750 pieces of equipment used in a variety of research activities were damaged, with many beyond repair. The price tag to restore the crucial equipment is a staggering $45.9 million.
Restoring Ukraine’s public science infrastructure will cost over $1 billion: UNESCO https://t.co/F4Tg0NIq33 https://t.co/F4Tg0NIq33
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 12, 2024
After analyzing the damage, it’s been estimated that a total of $1.26 billion is needed to assist the scientific institutions in their recovery. This includes a massive $980 million earmarked for universities that conduct 52% of the public research. But let’s not forget, Ukraine is internationally known for its contributions to nuclear physics, computer science, and astronomy. So, it’s crucial to get these institutions back up and running.
But that’s not all. The harsh reality is that unemployment is on the rise due to deteriorating state budgets and a decrease in funding for research and foreign partnerships. This is seriously hampering scientific productivity, not only within Ukraine but also on an international level. And if that’s not bad enough, the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants has voiced concerns about critical equipment needed to monitor the nuclear industry being stolen or damaged at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. This poses a major safety threat to the country and beyond.
The situation is so dire that more than 10,000 scientists working in the public sector have been displaced, with over 5,500 of them seeking refuge in Germany and Poland. 1,500 scientists have even volunteered for combat duty, highlighting the extent of the crisis. The damage to Ukraine’s culture and tourism industry is equally devastating, with more than $19 billion in revenue lost and 341 cultural sites destroyed. To rebuild the tourism industry alone, Ukraine will need nearly $9 billion over the next 10 years.
In light of these staggering figures, it is clear that Ukraine needs all the help it can get to recover from the devastating impact of this war. The importance of supporting Ukraine’s scientific community cannot be overstated, as they will be essential to the country’s recovery.
