Ukrainian scholars urge wartime recognition of education as essential infrastructure

Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a group of scientists and educators are calling for the nation’s education system to be classified as critical infrastructure, arguing that the war is eroding the very foundations of scientific progress.

The hostilities have taken a heavy toll on physical research facilities. Laboratories have been damaged or destroyed, sophisticated instruments have been looted or rendered inoperable, and entire campuses have been forced to shut down. Without the hardware that underpins experimental work, the capacity to train the next generation of researchers is severely constrained.

Beyond the loss of equipment, the conflict is fracturing the informal networks that sustain scientific development. Mentorship relationships, collaborative projects, and the day‑to‑day interactions that turn students into competent investigators are being interrupted as scholars are displaced, institutions are evacuated, and communication channels become unreliable. These human connections, which often operate outside formal curricula, are essential for passing tacit knowledge and fostering innovation.

The consequences extend far beyond the immediate disruption of classes and experiments. A prolonged breakdown in education and research pipelines risks a lasting deficit in skilled personnel, potentially accelerating brain drain as scholars seek stability abroad. Historical precedents show that rebuilding scientific capacity after large‑scale conflict can take decades, underscoring the urgency of protecting educational assets now.

Researchers suggest several measures to mitigate the damage: safeguarding schools and laboratories as protected sites, allocating emergency funding to replace essential equipment, and establishing remote mentorship programs supported by international partners. By treating education as a component of national infrastructure, policymakers could ensure that the country’s intellectual capital remains resilient, even as physical frontlines shift.