On April 8, 2026, the next meeting of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine took place.
The first report on the topic "Hyperbranched ion-containing oligomers – building blocks of electrolyte systems for various purposes" was presented by senior research fellow of the Institute of Chemistry of High-Molecular Compounds of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Chemical Sciences Oleksandr Strutskyi.
The speaker noted that the development of functional ionomers and polymer-electrolyte materials is one of the key directions of modern polymer chemistry and materials science. Such materials open wide application possibilities – from encapsulating nano-objects and producing metal nanoparticles to creating systems for controlled mass transfer, heterogeneous catalysis, "smart" coatings for sensorics and microelectronics.
Special attention was paid to polymer-electrolyte film materials and ionogels, which can be used in hydrogen fuel cells, lithium and sodium power sources, as well as flexible supercapacitors. Under current conditions, such developments are particularly important for the development of energy.
Among the main results are the creation of approaches to the synthesis of hyperbranched ionomers of various architectures, the study of their self-organization in solutions and at interfacial boundaries, and the development of methods for obtaining nanostructured polymer-electrolyte materials and ionogels.
The speaker also presented results on the creation of flexible supercapacitors with high functional characteristics and stimulus-sensitive polymer laminates with structurally regulated iridescent coloring, promising for photonics, sensorics, and optical markers.
According to the scientist, the obtained results form the foundation for the development of high-tech processes and can be used in knowledge-intensive sectors of the economy, particularly in alternative energy.
In the discussion of the report, the head of the department of the Institute of Chemistry of High-Molecular Compounds of the NAS of Ukraine, corresponding member of the NAS of Ukraine Valerii Shevchenko, noted the high scientific level of the speaker's work, his exceptional work capacity and maturity as a researcher, and also emphasized the promising nature of the chosen direction in oligomer chemistry.
The head of the department of the V.P. Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Chemical Sciences Oleksandr Pud, emphasized the multifunctionality of the developed materials, which can be used in membrane technologies, supercapacitors, and thin-film systems, and also noted their potential competitiveness.
The director of the Main Astronomical Observatory of the NAS of Ukraine, advisor to the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Yaroslav Yatskiv, separately noted the high publication activity of the speaker, in particular the significant number of articles in leading international journals.
The academician-secretary of the Chemistry Department of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Petro Stryzhak, emphasized the fundamental nature of research in polymer chemistry as the basis for creating new materials, noted the orientation of the work towards practical tasks (in particular for fuel cells), and the importance of using bio-based raw materials and developing new types of energy sources.
The vice-president of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Volodymyr Radchenko, drew attention to the relevance of developing domestic battery technologies in Ukraine and emphasized the expediency of combining efforts of various scientific institutions to create new energy solutions.
The academician-secretary of the Economics Department of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Valerii Heyets, stressed that the implementation of such developments requires clearly formulated projects and participation in state financing mechanisms, in particular through public investment competitions involving science and business.
The second report – "The Geopolitical Space of Ukraine: Historical Dimension" – was presented by leading research fellow of the Department of Historical Regional Studies of the Institute of History of Ukraine of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Geographical Sciences Rostyslav Sossa.
The presentation discussed how historical experience shapes the modern understanding of Ukrainian space. The speaker noted that in the context of current security challenges, a geopolitical view of history helps better see the reasons for regional differences and seek ways to balance them.
He separately focused on the historical-cartographic approach – through maps, one can trace how the socio-cultural space changed, how cities developed, political systems formed, and spatial conflicts arose.
An important emphasis was on countering manipulative historical narratives. According to the scientist, in a war where information is also a weapon, scientific analysis allows restoring a holistic picture of the past and strengthening national identity.
The speaker cited examples of historical cartographic sources that confirm the continuity of Ukraine's existence: since the 16th-17th centuries, the name "Ukraine" has been recorded in European documents and maps, including in the works of Guillaume Le Vasseur de Beauplan.
The presentation also covered research results carried out in scientific institutions of the NAS of Ukraine – in particular, on the formation of geopolitical identity, the role of historical memory, and features of the development of border regions.
In conclusion, Rostyslav Sossa noted that an important next task is the creation of a historical atlas of the geopolitical space of Ukraine – a tool that will allow visually tracing how the state was formed in different historical periods. According to him, such an atlas can be useful not only for science but also for analysis and decision-making at the state level.
In the discussion of the report, the director of the Center for Space, Energy, Nuclear, and Environmental Law of the V.M. Koretsky Institute of State and Law of the NAS of Ukraine, Candidate of Geographical Sciences Vyacheslav Leshchenko, emphasized the importance of the legal dimension of geopolitics and proposed more active involvement of the Institute of State and Law in the project. He also highlighted the role of scientific and public institutions in international processes, citing the example of Russia’s exclusion from the International Geographical Union, and pointed out the need for access to old maps stored abroad.
The deputy director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies – head of the Center for Domestic Political Studies, Doctor of Economic Sciences Vyacheslav Potapenko, supported the idea of creating an atlas as a practical tool for the state – primarily in the field of national security and international argumentation. He noted that such a project should be interdisciplinary and likely not limited to a paper format.
Member of the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Serhii Pyrozhkov, emphasized the historical significance of the topic, recalling previous work on the cartographic understanding of Ukraine’s formation. He stressed the importance of the atlas for affirming the state’s subjectivity and proposed creating a coordinating body under the Presidium for systematic work on the project.
Acting academician-secretary of the Department of History, Philosophy, and Law of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Valerii Smolii, supported the initiative, drawing attention to the complexity and duration of such projects. He emphasized that this is not only scientific but also strategic work, requiring broad involvement of specialists and becoming an important tool in modern informational and political processes.
Academician-secretary of the Department of Literature, Language, and Art Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Bohdan Azhniuk, supported the project, while noting the need for clearer terminological elaboration.
Academician of the NAS of Ukraine Yaroslav Yatskiv stressed the importance of the project for affirming Ukraine in the global scientific and informational space. He emphasized that such work has not only scientific but also strategic significance and requires broad interdisciplinary cooperation and proper coordination.
In conclusion, the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine considered a number of personnel and current issues.
In particular, the vice-president of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Volodymyr Radchenko, presented the results of the implementation of the Joint Activity Program of the NAS of Ukraine and the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine for 2023-2025. Despite the difficult conditions of wartime, cooperation remained active and productive: 70 joint events were implemented involving more than 50 scientific institutions.
The discussion covered joint research in the fields of agricultural science, ecology, biotechnology, genetics, as well as developments aimed at soil restoration, biodiversity conservation, agricultural sector development, and ensuring food security.
The obtained results have an interdisciplinary character and create a foundation for the introduction of new technologies in agriculture and related sectors of the economy.
