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In Crimea, the Russians detained the Ukrainian biologist Leonid Pshenychnov
Vasyl Myroshnychenko/Facebook
The scientist was accused of treason, reported at the National Antarctic Science Center.
Leonid Pshenychnov worked for many years at the Southern Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography in Kerch.
In 2015, he transferred to the Institute of Fisheries and Marine Ecology in Berdyansk, and later to its successor, the Institute of Fisheries, Marine Ecology and Oceanography in Kyiv.
However, Pshenychnov continued to live in Crimea with a Ukrainian passport, because he could not leave his family.
The scientist’s field of research is the biological resources of the Southern Ocean. He has many international papers on Antarctic krill stock assessment and ichthyofauna diversity.
Since 1996, his Pshenychnov represented Ukraine in the Commission for the Protection of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). This organization implements an ecosystem approach to marine resources to avoid overexploitation.
In particular, the commission approves quotas for catching Antarctic krill and industrial fish species, as well as develops measures to protect living Antarctic marine resources. This is, in particular, the establishment of reserves – especially protected areas of the Southern Ocean.
Until 2025, Pshenychnov actively worked in the commission and was the official representative of Ukraine. He held the position of technical coordinator of scientific observation of the catch of marine resources from the industrial vessels of our country.
Since 1996, his Pshenychnov represented Ukraine in the Commission for the Protection of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
National Antarctic Science Center/Facebook
The scientist also became one of the authors of the rationale for the Ukrainian initiative to create a new marine protected area (MPA) near the Antarctic Peninsula. However, this initiative, like others, is blocked by China and Russia, who consider it impractical.
In September 2025, on the eve of the commission’s next meeting, Leonid Pshenychnov was arrested as a “Russian” – he was forcibly issued a Russian passport.
The scientist was accused of treason and causing economic damage to Russia. In particular, the proposal to create an MPA was considered as leading to the limitation of industrial fishing of the aggressor country and the reduction of its control over a strategically important sector of the World Ocean.
“Now let the Russians try to deny that ecocide is a state policy of the Russian Federation. And let them once again repeat at the meeting of the Antarctic Treaty Meeting their lying song about “Antarctica is out of politics” with which they have been responding to attempts to draw attention to their war against Ukraine since 2014.
Unfortunately, the Antarctic did not stay out of politics precisely because Russia brought its policy of ecocide and repression against dissent even there. “The Russian measure” is capable of bringing evil even to the icy continent, and even there this evil should be given a solid international response.” – emphasizes the director of the National Center for International Development, Evgeny Dykiy.
At this year’s meeting of the commission, which began the other day in Hobart (Australia), Ambassador of Ukraine Vasyl Myroshnychenko urged member states to pay attention to the illegal imprisonment of Pshenychnov and asked to support Ukraine and demand the scientist’s release.
He noted that the persecution of the scientist is of a political nature and aims to undermine the scientific contribution of Ukraine within the framework of CCAMLR. Myroshnychenko also called Pshenychnov’s imprisonment a gross violation of human rights.
The National Academy of Sciences noted that the Australian delegation condemned the detention of the Ukrainian scientist. EU countries, Norway, Great Britain, New Zealand and Korea joined its position.
“We ask the world scientific and environmental community to come to the defense of the Ukrainian researcher of an international scale. Only in 2021, CCAMLR recognized Leonid’s more than 20-year contribution in its own commemorative materials, and now the scientist is behind bars.” – the Antarctic Center emphasized.
They also added that the biologist recently turned 70 years old. He has many health problems, so any delay in release could be critical.
”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
In Crimea, the Russians detained the Ukrainian biologist Leonid Pshenychnov
Vasyl Myroshnychenko/Facebook
The scientist was accused of treason, reported at the National Antarctic Science Center.
Leonid Pshenychnov worked for many years at the Southern Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography in Kerch.
In 2015, he transferred to the Institute of Fisheries and Marine Ecology in Berdyansk, and later to its successor, the Institute of Fisheries, Marine Ecology and Oceanography in Kyiv.
However, Pshenychnov continued to live in Crimea with a Ukrainian passport, because he could not leave his family.
The scientist’s field of research is the biological resources of the Southern Ocean. He has many international papers on Antarctic krill stock assessment and ichthyofauna diversity.
Since 1996, his Pshenychnov represented Ukraine in the Commission for the Protection of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). This organization implements an ecosystem approach to marine resources to avoid overexploitation.
In particular, the commission approves quotas for catching Antarctic krill and industrial fish species, as well as develops measures to protect living Antarctic marine resources. This is, in particular, the establishment of reserves – especially protected areas of the Southern Ocean.
Until 2025, Pshenychnov actively worked in the commission and was the official representative of Ukraine. He held the position of technical coordinator of scientific observation of the catch of marine resources from the industrial vessels of our country.
Since 1996, his Pshenychnov represented Ukraine in the Commission for the Protection of Marine Living Resources of the Antarctic (CCAMLR).
National Antarctic Science Center/Facebook
The scientist also became one of the authors of the rationale for the Ukrainian initiative to create a new marine protected area (MPA) near the Antarctic Peninsula. However, this initiative, like others, is blocked by China and Russia, who consider it impractical.
In September 2025, on the eve of the commission’s next meeting, Leonid Pshenychnov was arrested as a “Russian” – he was forcibly issued a Russian passport.
The scientist was accused of treason and causing economic damage to Russia. In particular, the proposal to create an MPA was considered as leading to the limitation of industrial fishing of the aggressor country and the reduction of its control over a strategically important sector of the World Ocean.
“Now let the Russians try to deny that ecocide is a state policy of the Russian Federation. And let them once again repeat at the meeting of the Antarctic Treaty Meeting their lying song about “Antarctica is out of politics” with which they have been responding to attempts to draw attention to their war against Ukraine since 2014.
Unfortunately, the Antarctic did not stay out of politics precisely because Russia brought its policy of ecocide and repression against dissent even there. “The Russian measure” is capable of bringing evil even to the icy continent, and even there this evil should be given a solid international response.” – emphasizes the director of the National Center for International Development, Evgeny Dykiy.
At this year’s meeting of the commission, which began the other day in Hobart (Australia), Ambassador of Ukraine Vasyl Myroshnychenko urged member states to pay attention to the illegal imprisonment of Pshenychnov and asked to support Ukraine and demand the scientist’s release.
He noted that the persecution of the scientist is of a political nature and aims to undermine the scientific contribution of Ukraine within the framework of CCAMLR. Myroshnychenko also called Pshenychnov’s imprisonment a gross violation of human rights.
The National Academy of Sciences noted that the Australian delegation condemned the detention of the Ukrainian scientist. EU countries, Norway, Great Britain, New Zealand and Korea joined its position.
“We ask the world scientific and environmental community to come to the defense of the Ukrainian researcher of an international scale. Only in 2021, CCAMLR recognized Leonid’s more than 20-year contribution in its own commemorative materials, and now the scientist is behind bars.” – the Antarctic Center emphasized.
They also added that the biologist recently turned 70 years old. He has many health problems, so any delay in release could be critical.