Ukrainian social media was stirred by a call for nominations for the UNESCO award, which carries the loud name “The UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences.” However, the announcement was published on the institution's website on January 7, 2026. This prize was initiated and funded by the Russian government. It includes a US$250,000 cash prize for each of the two winners. Each laureate will also receive a gold medal and a diploma. 

UNESCO established this prize in 2019. So far, it has only been awarded twice: in 2021 and 2023, although the prize is positioned as an annual event. Each time, one of the two winners was a Russian scientist. The international jury includes scientists from Spain, Germany, Russia, Mexico, India, Kenya, and Morocco.  

As stated in the official information about this prize, "it also commemorates the remarkable scientific heritage of D. I. Mendeleev, father of the Periodic Table, who’s work played a fundamental role in the future of chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy and geochemistry – but also in what is now termed sustainable development."
Particularly cynical in the eyes of Ukrainians is this sentence from the award's official website: the prize “was created to raise awareness of their role in creating peaceful and prosperous societies”

The National Museum of the History of Ukraine (as an institution that studies the methods Russia has used for centuries to promote its greatness) calls on UNESCO to cancel this prize and not to contribute to the spread of Russian narratives. Under the guise of “science beyond politics” and the name of a scientist who lived over a hundred years ago, Russia is now trying to whitewash its crimes against humanity and numerous war crimes. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, Russian missiles and drones are destroying the buildings of research institutes and universities. While Ukrainian scientists are dying from shelling in Ukrainian cities, in Russian captivity, or defending Ukraine from Russian soldiers, one of the world's most influential organisations is awarding scientists with money from the bloody Russian government. Ukrainian scientists have launched an initiative to commemorate their fallen colleagues, with 167 names added as of November 2025: https://my.science.ua/ua-scholars-killed-by-russia/ Unfortunately, this list is not exhaustive.

Recently, the International Olympic Committee disqualified Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych for his intention to compete wearing a helmet with photos of Ukrainian athletes who died in the Russian-Ukrainian war. The “helmet of remembrance” was banned because of its “political nature.”

Is awarding a prize in honour of Russian achievements in fundamental sciences political in nature?

We hope that Ukrainian representatives will also express their strong protest.