Meeting with Ukrainian Polar Explorers from the "Akademik Vernadsky" Antarctic Station

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Akademik Vernadsky Ukrainian Antarctic Station, the National Museum of the History of Ukraine will host a meeting with Ukrainian polar explorers — the pioneers of the first expeditions to Antarctica.

On February 6, 1996, Great Britain officially transferred the Faraday Antarctic Research Station, located on Galindez Island, to Ukraine. This was made possible through the persistent efforts of Ukrainian scientists and diplomats. The British Antarctic Survey, which had managed the station since 1947, highly praised the professionalism of the Ukrainian team and decided to hand over the facility to Ukraine.

The Akademik Vernadsky station is a vital hub for international scientific research and a symbol of Ukraine's contribution to global science. Here, Ukrainian scientists study climate change, geophysical processes, the atmosphere, and Antarctic biodiversity, contributing to the understanding of global phenomena.

Attendees will have a unique opportunity to speak directly with the polar explorers and learn firsthand:

• How preparations for Antarctic expeditions are conducted;

• What daily life is like at the station under conditions of extreme cold, isolation, and the polar night;

• The scientific, technical, and psychological challenges expedition members face;

• The most interesting research, discoveries, and unusual situations encountered over the years.

Meeting Participants:

• Svitlana Krakovska – Climatologist and meteorologist, Head of the Applied Climatology Laboratory at the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute. Member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the US National Academy of Sciences. Participant of the 2nd Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition.

• Volodymyr Bakhmutov – Geophysicist, Doctor of Geological Sciences, Corresponding Member of the NASU. Specialist in geomagnetism and magnetochronology. Participant of the 1st Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition.

• Roman Bratchyk – Radio engineer who worked at the station for 7 years, including a continuous stay of two years and three months. Participant of the 1st and 2nd expeditions.

• Andriy Sydorovskyi – Diesel mechanic. Participant of the 1st Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition.

• Gennadiy Milinevsky – Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Head of the Space Physics Research Laboratory at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Leader of the 1st Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition.

February 8, 2026, at 15:00Admission is free upon registration.Inquiries: (044) 278-48-64 or 093 855 61 16 (Viber, Telegram).