

Fighting on two fronts
Oct 16, 2025
Anastasia Chihryma, a meteorologist and researcher with Ukraine's National Antarctic Scientific Centre, explores the pressing importance of polar science amidst the backdrop of war. She highlights how Ukraine's scientific contributions play a vital role in understanding climate change while facing devastating impacts from the conflict. Anastasia shares insights on life at the Vernadsky station, the challenges of maintaining operations during the invasion, and how scientists are stepping into military roles. The conversation reflects on emotional strains and the evolving dynamics in research teams as Ukraine fights on two fronts.
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Science Persists Amid War
- The NASC in Kyiv continues climate research despite war to protect a shared global future.
- Their work shows national conflict doesn't nullify contributions to global climate knowledge.
A Cozy Antarctic Station
- Zoya gave a WhatsApp tour of Vernatsky, describing its wooden warmth and creaking corridors.
- She conveyed a homely, decades-old station atmosphere that comforts researchers amid isolation.
Long Records Strengthen Climate Evidence
- Vernatsky holds temperature records since 1947, providing one of the southern hemisphere's longest continuous datasets.
- Long-term records are essential to demonstrate the scale and acceleration of climate change.