The United Nations’ cultural and scientific agency reported on Monday that Ukraine will require over $1 billion to reconstruct scientific infrastructure that sustained damage or destruction during the two-year conflict with Russia.

According to a report published on Monday by UNESCO, over 1,443 scientific institutions, predominantly affiliated with universities in the country, have suffered damage or complete destruction. Additionally, around 750 crucial technical devices have been lost, most of which are irreparable.

The conflict, currently in its third year, has also drained funds from the science sector and scattered Ukraine’s scientists, causing displacement for many within the nation and forcing others to flee their home.

According to the report, the situation at the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants, located near the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine, is especially worrisome. The report noted that crucial equipment used for monitoring the nuclear industry at the institute has been either stolen or destroyed, posing a risk to safety not only in the area but also beyond it.

Prior to the war, Ukraine was globally recognized for its noteworthy advancements in computer science, nuclear physics, and astronomy, among other fields.

Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, emphasized the importance of safeguarding and endorsing scientific research in Ukraine. In her statement, she also highlighted the crucial role that scientists, engineers, and other experts will play in the country’s process of rebuilding.

A report states that in the war, 1,443 buildings owned by 177 scientific organizations have been demolished or harmed. The restoration of these facilities will require over $1.21 billion, specifically $980.5 million for universities that have suffered the most damage. Additionally, it is estimated that $45.9 million will be needed to replace essential research equipment.

Since the beginning of the war, a total of 10,429 scientists employed in the public research sector have either been forcibly relocated within the country or forced to leave their homeland. Of the 5,542 scientists who have fled, the highest numbers have sought refuge in Germany and Poland. Ukraine, which previously employed 88,629 scientists, has been greatly impacted by this dispersal.

In February 2022, UNESCO calculated that the culture and tourism industries in Ukraine have suffered a loss of more than $19 billion due to the ongoing war. The organization also reported 341 cultural sites in Ukraine, including those in Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa, have been damaged as a result of the conflict.

According to estimates from the U.N. agency, Ukraine will require around $9 billion in the next ten years to restore its cultural sites and revitalize its tourism industry, which have been greatly affected by Russia’s invasion and subsequent war.

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Source: wral.com