The unprovoked and unjustified military aggression carried out by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and supported by Belarus, which we condemn in the strongest terms, has implications for our research and innovation activities with Russia and Belarus. These implications are summarised under the headings below.

For reasons outlined below it is important that all UCD researchers inform us (using the button above) of any research activity, of any nature, with collaborators or entities in Russia or Belarus.

The University will do all that it can to assist UCD researchers affected by this notice so that your research is not adversely affected. When contacting us to inform us of your activities, please flag any particular guidance or assistance that you may need.

Importantly, please pay particular attention to the needs of students and colleagues who are directly impacted by the invasion and the associated humanitarian crisis. We want to make sure that they are supported throughout this time, and details of University supports are available here.

If you have any questions about any matter covered here please use the button to log your query.

You can also read the European Council's latest measures in response to the Ukraine crisis.

The information presented here will be kept under review as matters develop, and will be updated as necessary. Please continue to check this website for updates.

The University must comply with all EU and Irish restrictive measures/sanctions which have been put in place against Russia and Belarus. Failure to do so is a criminal offence on behalf of both the University and the individual researcher.

The sanctions and restrictive measures are complex and technical and cover areas such as defence and technology, security, energy, aviation, space, transport, telecommunications, finance, oil, tobacco, mineral products, wood products and dual use/military items. Dual use items cover nuclear materials, facilities and equipment; special materials and related equipment; materials processing; electronics; computers; telecommunications and information security; sensors and lasers; navigation and avionics; marine; and aerospace and propulsion.

Notably, it is not just the goods or equipment themselves that are covered by the sanctions but also any “technical assistance” relating to them, thus potentially capturing research activity and results. 

You can see how these areas potentially cover much of UCD’s research activity. Therefore, if you are working with Russian or Belarusian entities in these areas, given the complexity and detail of the sanctions, careful examination of how the sanctions might apply to your research activity will be necessary. It is possible that the sanctions will be strengthened and expanded and so further areas of research may be brought into scope at any point.

So that the University can ensure compliance with all current sanctions, and is in a position to comply with any future sanctions that may be put in place, all researchers must inform us of any research activity, of any nature, with collaborators or entities in Russia or Belarus. Legal advice will be obtained where necessary and, working with the researcher, it will be ascertained whether the sanctions apply. If we are not made aware of all activities with Russian and Belarusian entities, we cannot take the necessary steps to support researchers and to ensure compliance with the law.

The University has taken a policy decision not to accept any research funding from entities in Russia or Belarus, whether from state-funded or private entities. Funding due under any existing contracts will not be accepted. No future funding contracts shall be entered into for the foreseeable future. If you have an existing funding contract with a Russian or Belarusian entity we will be in contact with you directly.

We respect the academic freedom of UCD researchers to continue research collaborations with individuals in Russia or Belarus where these are not prohibited by any sanctions or other law. We know that many researchers in these countries have spoken up against the war, often exposing themselves to significant personal danger as a consequence. On the other hand, the leaders of many of their institutions have expressed strong support for the war through the Russian Union of Rectors. Academics should take into account all factors that are relevant to such individual collaborations, including UCD’s absolute condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine, and apply their academic judgement on a case-by-case basis, informed by our values and in full compliance with all applicable law.

Where UCD researchers are members of international consortia or networks with researchers from Russia or Belarus, they should discuss the continued involvement of such researchers with the consortium leadership or the sponsoring organisation, observing the policy of funders (such as the European Commission). Many such consortia have taken or are taking steps to exclude researchers from these countries.

UCD academics should not undertake any consultancy or external work for entities or events in Russia or Belarus. This includes inter-institutional academic activities that are central to the organisation of academic life, such as the organisation of academic conferences, external examining, etc.

Given current Irish Government advice to avoid all travel to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, coupled with the ongoing difficulties in obtaining usable travel insurance for journeys to these countries, all travel by UCD staff and students on University business to these countries is suspended at this time. This applies to all travel, including student placements, exchanges, research-related travel and conference attendance. This will be kept under review