A first letter of intent for the Recovery of Ukrainian Astronomy signed in Lviv
The Recovery of Ukrainian Astronomy took an early concrete step in Lviv, where the Ukrainian Astronomical Association (UAA) signed a letter of intent with two German partners, DESY and the German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA). The agreement was signed by Dr. Iryna Vavilova, Vice-President of the Ukrainian Astronomical Association, together with Christian Stegmann, Director of Astroparticle Physics at DESY, and Dr. Stefan Ohm, representative of the German Centre for Astrophysics.
The letter of intent is aimed at supporting the recovery and strengthening of Ukrainian astronomy, and it recognises the significance of the Rome Declaration of Intent for Science, Research, and Innovation in Ukraine. For the Ukrainian community, it is a first building block of the wider effort later set out in the Recovery Plan for Ukrainian Astronomy: reconnecting the field with European partners and creating long-term, reliable channels for collaboration.
"This agreement marks an important step in building long-term scientific bridges between DESY and the Ukrainian astronomy community," said Christian Stegmann. Stefan Ohm added: "The DZA is fostering close ties with our neighbours. I am very pleased that, following successful collaborations with partners in the Czech Republic and Poland, Ukrainian astronomy is now also joining as a partner."
During the visit, the delegation met Prof. Roman Gladyshevskii, Rector of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Prof. Roman Korzh, Vice-Rector for Institutional Development at Lviv Polytechnic National University, and representatives of scientific institutions of both universities. Lviv is one of Ukraine's major academic hubs, home to around 100 000 students, and its two largest universities play a central role in higher education and research across western Ukraine.
Much of the visit was devoted to the next generation of Ukrainian scientists, the human capital at the heart of the recovery. Students at Ivan Franko University were given an insight into research at DESY and the DZA, and the discussions opened the door to future collaborations. A particular highlight was a meeting with former Ukrainian participants of the DESY Summer School, Valeriia Pinchuk, Mariia Seniak, Nataliia Mykhailyshyn, Yuliia Shevchuk and Albina Tabachynska, who showed how much such programmes matter for building first contacts between young Ukrainian scientists and the international research community.
The signatories described being struck by the resilience and determination of students and staff in Lviv, who continue their studies and research under the conditions of the war. The letter of intent signed here was later extended in April 2026, when the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine joined the cooperation.
Sources: announcement on desy.de, German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA).