Russian Missile Strike Damages Ukraine’s Palladin Institute of Biochemistry
By Natalia Rodríguez | INESC Brussels HUB News
The International Coalition for Science, Research and Innovation in Ukraine has issued an urgent appeal for support following a Russian missile strike that severely damaged the Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The attack, which took place on 2 July, damaged three of the Institute’s four buildings and severely affected laboratories, scientific equipment and critical research infrastructure.
Internationally recognised for its work in biochemistry and biomedical sciences, the Palladin Institute plays an important role in Ukraine’s scientific landscape. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, its work has taken on an additional dimension, supporting research directly relevant to the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and civilian healthcare services.
Among the Institute’s ongoing activities is the development of injectable anti-bleeding agents designed to treat severe haemorrhaging sustained by soldiers and civilians near the front line.
According to the appeal circulated by the Coalition Secretariat at the request of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the immediate priority is to secure and repair the laboratories affected by the strike in order to protect valuable reagents, biological samples and research materials that remain at risk due to damage to roofs and windows.
The attack also resulted in the loss or damage of a substantial amount of scientific equipment essential for biomedical research, including flow cytometry systems, spectrophotometers, centrifuges, ultra-low temperature freezers, biosafety cabinets and cell culture infrastructure. Preliminary estimates place the value of damaged laboratory property at between USD 850,000 and USD 1.75 million, excluding the loss of unique biological collections, scientific data and years of accumulated research work.
Beyond the physical destruction, the strike has disrupted national and international research projects and threatens the continuity of scientific activities in areas including immunology, infectious diseases, biotechnology and public health.
Members of the International Coalition for Science, Research and Innovation in Ukraine are now being encouraged to mobilise support for the Institute through emergency repairs, equipment donations and other forms of assistance that would allow research activities to resume as quickly as possible.
At a time when Ukraine’s research community continues to operate under extraordinarily difficult circumstances, the appeal serves as a reminder that protecting scientific infrastructure is not only about preserving buildings and equipment, but also safeguarding knowledge, expertise and the capacity to respond to some of society’s most urgent challenges
How to support
The International Coalition for Science, Research and Innovation in Ukraine is now inviting research organisations, universities, infrastructures, companies and funding bodies to help support the recovery of the Palladin Institute.
Immediate priorities include funding for emergency repairs to protect laboratories and scientific materials, as well as donations of scientific equipment to replace damaged infrastructure and allow critical biomedical research activities to continue.
Organisations interested in contributing or exploring possible support opportunities are invited to contact Daria Ivashchenko at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, while copying the Secretariat of the International Coalition for Science, Research and Innovation in Ukraine
As UNESCO currently supports the technical assessment of the damage, rapid action from the international research and innovation community could play an important role in safeguarding both ongoing scientific work and Ukraine’s longer-term research capacity.
A detailed list of priority equipment needs is available below for organisations interested in exploring possible support opportunities.
