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Ukraine Demands UNESCO Cancel Controversial Russian Science Prize

2/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine urge United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to cancel the UNESCO–Russia International Mendeleev Prize, funded by Russia.
Established in 2019, the prize has been awarded twice to Russian scientists.
The ministries say the prize would promote Russian narratives and whitewash war crimes, and they demand a boycott and the jury’s resignation.

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Story summary

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine urge United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to cancel the UNESCO–Russia International Mendeleev Prize, funded by Russia.
Established in 2019, the prize has been awarded twice to Russian scientists.
The ministries say the prize would promote Russian narratives and whitewash war crimes, and they demand a boycott and the jury’s resignation.