Rostock/Kyiv (LabNews Media LLC) – The armed conflict in Ukraine has fundamentally altered the country’s scholarly map. According to a new study, the displacement of Ukrainian researchers from affected regions did not begin with the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, but was already underway immediately after Russia illegally annexed Crimea and fighting started in the Donbas in 2014.
Published in Population and Development Review, researchers Michael Zaslavsky and Aliakbar Akbaritabar analyzed publication and affiliation data from 2009 to 2022 to track Ukrainian scholarly migration. Co-author Akbaritabar noted that while the 2022 invasion heightened visibility, displacement began years prior.
Distinct Regional Patterns
Between 2015 and 2017, regions like Donetsk and Luhansk saw net internal losses, while Crimea and Donetsk experienced notable international departures. Curiously, economically developed areas also saw researcher relocations, likely due to stronger international ties facilitating moves during crises.
The authors stress this is not a simple “brain drain” due to significant internal migration, and suggest bibliometric data can help target future rebuilding efforts.
Study DOI: 10.1111/padr.70088
