We, Russian scientists and scientific journalists, declare our strong protest of the hostilities launched by the armed forces of our country against the territory of Ukraine. This fatal step has led to huge human losses and undermined the foundations of the established system of international security. The responsibility for unleashing this new war in Europe lies entirely with Russia.
There is no rational justification for this war. Attempts to use the situation in Donbass as a pretext for launching a military operation inspire no confidence. It is clear that Ukraine does not pose a threat to the security of our country. The war against it is unfair and arrogantly senseless.
Ukraine has been and remains a country that is close to us. Many of us have relatives, friends, and scientific colleagues who live in Ukraine. Our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers fought together against Nazism. Unleashing a war for the sake of the geopolitical ambitions of the leaders of the Russian Federation, who are driven by dubious historical fantasies, is a cynical betrayal of their memory.
We respect Ukrainian statehood, which rests on functioning democratic institutions. We treat Europe’s attitude towards our neighbors with understanding. We are convinced that all problems in relations between our countries can be resolved peacefully.
Having unleashed the war, Russia has doomed itself to international isolation, to the position of a pariah country. This means that we, as scientists, will no longer be able to do our jobs normally: After all, conducting scientific research is unthinkable in the absence of full cooperation with colleagues from other countries. The isolation of Russia from the world, in the complete absence of positive prospects, means the further cultural and technological degradation of our country. War with Ukraine is a step to nowhere.
It is bitter for us to realize that our country, which made a decisive contribution to the victory over Nazism, has now become the instigator of a new war on the European continent. We demand an immediate halt to all military operations directed against Ukraine. We demand respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state. We demand peace for our countries.