War pushes Ukraine’s astronomy to the brink

image via New Scientist

March 3, 2026, 1:00 PM

• •The Braude Radio Astronomy Observatory was severely damaged, with infrastructure looted and destroyed.
• •The war has halved the public research and development budget and displaced thousands of researchers.
• •Despite the challenges, astronomers are working to rebuild and modernize Ukrainian observatories.
• •Postwar plans include seeking deeper partnerships with the European Southern Observatory.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused widespread devastation to the nation's astronomical infrastructure, including the destruction of observatories and the displacement of researchers. Despite the immense challenges, Ukrainian astronomers are determined to rebuild and recover their scientific community, with plans for modernization and deeper ties with European partners. The war has significantly impacted the research pipeline, reducing the number of scientists and early-career researchers, but the spirit of Ukrainian space science persists. With the reopening of observatories and the emergence of postwar recovery plans, the Ukrainian astronomical community is striving to preserve and rebuild its scientific capabilities for the future.

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