Oksana Kazak

Type of the article: Research Article

This paper explores how Russia uses the international academic sphere, including scientific papers, scientometric databases, international publishers, and international organizations, as a propaganda tool to legitimize its appropriation of Ukrainian territories and Ukrainian academic institutions there. To do this, a bibliometric analysis was used. The results showed that thousands of academic papers published in 2014–2024 in peer-reviewed journals by Russian academicians marked Ukrainian territories as those referring and affiliated with the Russian Federation. The same is true for the case of editorial boards of international journals, where Ukrainian cities were incorrectly marked as part of the Russian Federation. Quite often, those organizations that provide affiliations in the occupied territories of Ukraine are not even legitimate: they were created by Russia using the captured Ukrainian scientific infrastructure and often named similarly or the same as the existing Ukrainian institutions-in-exile. It is important that the international scientific community put an end to this misuse of its resources. The study findings highlighted the importance and urgency of coordinated actions from academic journals, publishing platforms, and scientometric databases towards vigilant oversight of the content they host and accountability of the authors to prevent the dissemination, indexing, or promotion of Russian narratives and propaganda related to the appropriation of the Ukrainian territories.

Acknowledgment
Alex Plastun gratefully acknowledges financial support provided by Volkswagen Foundation, Ref.: 9C853, Project “Sustaining Ukrainian Scholarship”, hosted by New Europe College.

Type of the article: Research Article

Editorial boards are vital components of scholarly journals, ensuring the integrity, quality, and academic rigor of published research. They play a key role in guiding a journal’s vision, selecting content, and upholding ethical standards. Journal reputations are reinforced by the endorsement of recognized scholars. Although many scientists worldwide have chosen to distance themselves from Russian institutions following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, we noticed that members of the global scientific community were still included on the editorial boards of journals published by an international publisher and edited by academic institutions in the Russian Federation. Given their importance, during 2024, we performed an email survey of members of non-Russian institutions serving on the editorial boards of 140 such journals and sent the letters to 709 international members of these boards. Based on 165 responses received, the findings reveal that 70.9% of international members of these editorial boards were either unaware of their membership, or did not fulfill their editorial duties, or were retired, or were deceased (17 cases). Inclusion of these individuals without their knowledge or consent clearly constitutes an unauthorized misrepresentation as to editorial board memberships, which might be harmful to the reputation of specific scientists. After the inquiries, 60.1% of respondents reported their decision to withdraw their names from these editorial boards as an ethical conflict resolution. The results of the analysis help to understand how journals and researchers respond to ethical and geopolitical challenges, ensuring that their practices comply with international standards and values.

Acknowledgment
Alex Plastun gratefully acknowledges financial support provided by Volkswagen Foundation, Ref.: 9C853, Project “Sustaining Ukrainian Scholarship”, hosted by New Europe College.