Ukraine continues to support the work of the Antarctic station “Akademik Vernadsky” even during the war with the aggressor country Russia, considering its presence in Antarctica as an element of geopolitical struggle and protection of national interests. Politico writes about this on May 8.
The station is located almost 16 thousand km from Kyiv, on the Antarctic Peninsula, notes the report, which is entitled: “The strangest front line. Like a mint green research base, 14 scientists and a colony of Adelie penguins have become part of Ukraine’s military strategy.” Now a group of Ukrainian scientists, led by meteorologist Anzhelika Ganchuk, is working there. According to her, stopping the operation of the base even for a year would mean the actual loss of the station and Ukraine’s place in the management system of Antarctica.
In February, Kyiv approved a new polar strategy, calling its presence in Antarctica “a platform for protecting national interests.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrei Sibiga said that the country's participation in Antarctic projects helps strengthen international positions and counteract Russian policies.
Kyiv considers the Antarctic program not only a scientific project, but also part of a global confrontation with Russia. Ukrainian authorities emphasize that maintaining a presence in the region allows the country to participate in international decision-making and not cede strategic positions to Moscow even far from the front.
After the outbreak of a full-scale war, relations between the parties to the Antarctic Treaty also became strained. According to Politico, Western countries support Ukraine, while Russia and China regularly block environmental initiatives. At the same time, the administration of US President Donald Trump has actually stopped the participation of the United States in the informal support group for Ukraine within the framework of Antarctic meetings.
Ukrainian authorities also intend to raise the question of the fate of scientist Leonid Pshenichnov, whom Russia detained in occupied Crimea on charges of treason. In Kyiv they call him the first “Antarctic political prisoner.”
