Community initiative
Rebuilding Ukrainian astronomy and integrating it into the European Research Area.
The Recovery Plan for Ukrainian Astronomy is a first version and a shared vision, not a final document. Developed by the Ukrainian astronomical community over the past year, it sets out a long-term direction for rebuilding the field. Rather than restoring only what was lost, it treats recovery as a chance to build a more modern, internationally connected and resilient astronomy, structured around four directions: human capital and scientific networks, research infrastructure, innovation and economic development, and education and public engagement.
This is an open, evolving document, and we are in the middle of gathering feedback to make it better. Read the current version, then share your comments, criticism and ideas. Your input will help shape the next revision.
At the European Astronomical Society Annual Meeting (EAS 2026) in Lausanne, the Ukrainian astronomical community and colleagues from across Europe met during the special session "Saving astronomy in Ukraine: what can we do as a community?" to discuss the future of Ukrainian astronomy and identify concrete steps towards its recovery and long-term integration into the European Research Area.
During a visit to Lviv, DESY Director for Astroparticle Physics Christian Stegmann and Stefan Ohm (DZA) signed an extension of the memorandum of understanding with Ukrainian partners, now joined by the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and held a radio astronomy training for teachers from across Ukraine.
The recovery effort took shape at the meeting "Recovery Plan for Ukrainian Astronomy", hosted by Leiden Observatory and the IAU European Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU-EROAD). Ukrainian astronomers opened a dialogue with European colleagues on rebuilding the field, summarised in a Nature Astronomy article.
We are setting up a shared initiative email address. In the meantime, please use this temporary contact:
Pavlo Plotko
International Scientific Affairs, German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA)