The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged UNESCO to revoke the Mendeleev International Prize in Fundamental Sciences, which is funded by the Russian government. Officials argue that Russia is misusing the award to obscure its military transgressions through the guise of scientific achievement.
Georgiy Tikhiy, spokesperson for the Ministry, made this statement on February 15, emphasizing that Russia’s actions contradict the principles of scientific integrity.
“Russia has nothing to do with scientific discoveries and awards — it is a country of barbarism, aggression, and disregard for human life,” Tikhiy stated.
This reaction follows UNESCO’s announcement of the competition for the Mendeleev Prize, with Tikhiy highlighting the inappropriateness of allowing Russia to sanitize its war crimes through scientific accolades.
The Ministry is demanding the cancellation of the prize and is calling for the competition’s jury to resign. Additionally, they have appealed to the new director-general of UNESCO not to appoint a new jury.
Tikhiy pointed out that Russia continues to launch missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, destroying educational, scientific, and cultural institutions, and resulting in civilian casualties, including children, scientists, educators, and artists. He noted that since the onset of the full-scale war, Russian forces have damaged or destroyed at least 4,456 educational institutions and 1,443 research institutes.
The Ministry asserted that Russia systematically violates the United Nations Charter and UNESCO’s mandate, which aims to promote peace through the advancement of education, science, and culture. They have called upon the international scientific community, UNESCO member states, and all stakeholders to boycott the award.
The Ministry has repeatedly reached out to UNESCO’s secretariat, urging it not to support Russian initiatives or candidates within the organization’s mandate. They confirmed their intent to continue this advocacy alongside the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO.
Simultaneously, Tikhiy underscored the importance of implementing UNESCO’s Action Plan for the Restoration of Science in Ukraine, which was presented in July 2025 in Kyiv and during the International Conference on Restoration in Rome.
The Ukrainian government has called for the cancellation of a Russian-funded scientific award, accusing Russia of using it to mask its military actions. Officials emphasize the ongoing destruction of educational and cultural institutions in Ukraine as justification for their stance.