Editorial: The Effect of Russian War in Ukraine on Scholarly Research Activities

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has led to significant regional political tensions and has severely disrupted academic institutions in Ukraine and neighboring countries such as Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Many universities in Ukraine have faced challenges, particularly in the Eastern Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv, Kherson, and Mykolaiv, where physical damage to facilities has occurred. As a result, hundreds of faculty members have been displaced, and thousands of students have had to migrate, leading to a loss of financial resources.

Unfortunately, the war has redirected funding away from Ukrainian academic institutions and research projects, diverting it to address urgent humanitarian needs and military efforts. Consequently, funding that would have supported scholarly activities like research grants and conference participation has been reallocated to support the immediate priorities related to the conflict.

Furthermore, the ongoing conflict has caused a brain drain, with talented female researchers and professors leaving affected regions due to safety concerns or seeking more stable academic environments for themselves and their families. This loss of expertise directly impacts scholarly publications, as there is a reduced pool of qualified researchers available to contribute to academic journals and conferences. Additionally, international collaborations and partnerships between scholars from Eastern European and Central Asian countries and their counterparts in other regions have been disrupted due to the war.

Numerous libraries, archives, and research facilities at Ukrainian universities have been damaged or made inaccessible due to security precautions, making it difficult for scholars to access necessary materials for their research and publication efforts. Beyond the physical and financial consequences, the war has had a profound psychological impact. Russian military assaults on civilian infrastructure have created a great deal of uncertainty, fear, and trauma, which will continue to cause significant psychological suffering for many years to come. This emotional distress hinders scholarly publication as individuals struggle to focus on their research and writing amidst the turmoil.

However, the Russian war in Ukraine has also sparked academic debates on various topics such as Ukrainian sovereignty, international law, regional security, and the role of major powers in conflicts, including the political future of Russia. Scholars in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have contributed unique perspectives to these discussions, drawing from their proximity to the conflict and regional expertise.

Regrettably, Russian academic institutions have not spoken out against the Russian war or shown support for their suffering Ukrainian colleagues when the international community condemned the Russian aggression. As a result, Russian academia has been suspended from Scopus and Web of Science, and Russian authors are banned from publishing in U.S. and European scientific journals.

Nonetheless, the Russian war in Ukraine has stimulated academic research, generated new research questions, and contributed to theoretical advancements in the fields of international relations, regional security, and global economics. These developments ensure that research and publications in these areas will continue to evolve, deepening our understanding of the complexities surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Dr. Mykola Megits, Adjunct Full Professor, School of Business and Technology, Webster University, St. Louis, MO, USA | Visiting Professor, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Fulbright Alumni, University of Zagreb, Croatia | Academic of the Academy of Economic Science of Ukraine | Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Eastern European and Central Asian Research