Since the beginning of the Russian offensive against Ukraine, the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) has maintained close ties with colleagues at the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology (KIPT). with particular support for the Uragan fusion experiment team, who continue their work with notable professionalism and perseverance despite extremely challenging conditions.
A key link between the institutions is Valerii, a researcher from Kharkiv who regularly reports from Ukraine. Generally, his brief messages - often simply stating "everything is okay" - suffice to indicate that support from Germany is reaching them. And it means a great deal. "The greatest blessing is knowing that we are not forgotten by those outside Ukraine, " Valerii writes. "There are those who remember us."
This past winter marked the third in a row that posed significant challenges for the team and shaped the conditions under which research could continue. Without a functioning heating system, there was a serious risk that the Uragan stellarator's cooling systems would freeze. After the building sustained severe damage, all water-bearing systems had to be thoroughly winterized. Yet in the spring of 2025, the team, against all odds, managed to implement a wall conditioning programme using glow discharges, a feat made possible only by the tireless efforts of everyone involved..
Research continues under the most arduous conditions. Valerii reports daily bombardments in the Kharkiv region, alongside the recent commissioning of a mass spectrometer, for which liquid nitrogen had to be procured at great expense. And yet, the work on Uragan goes on.
Exchange in Greifswald
Personal encounters remain vital. Yurii is currently a guest on the Greifswald campus, participating in experiments on the Wendelstein 7-X fusion reactor while staying in close contact with his team in Kharkiv. Despite his reservist status, he has managed to leave the country - a fact that cannot be taken for granted. The experimental data are being evaluated in Ukraine, and a recent publication has appeared in Nuclear Fusion. Yurii has also been invited by the American Institute of Physics to speak at a webinar - a sign of international recognition despite the difficult circumstances.
© Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology
A photograph featuring Yurii is particularly poignant: six men, looking directly into the camera, their faces marked by exhaustion yet also expressing courage and hope. The image evokes memories of miners from bygone eras - hard work, solidarity, and a deep sense of mutual responsibility. Fatigue is visible, but so is the absence of resignation (see image on the left).
Perseverance in the face of all adversity
Damage to the institute in Kharkiv continues to mount. A neighbouring building was recently hit in an attack. Windows and doors are gone, replaced with plywood instead of glass. "The front is no more than 25 kilometres away," says Yurii, pointing to a laptop. Alongside the experimental data, a real-time feed displaying the military situation in the region is running. Colleagues are monitoring which villages are currently under artillery fire. One points to a location on the map: "That used to be my garden, " he says. "Today the area is inaccessible."
And yet: work goes on. "We are looking to the future and making plans," says Yurii. "We do what we can. Most of us only have one wish: that it will soon be over."
The evening greeting in Ukraine these days is often: "May your night be quiet and peaceful", a phrase that carries more weight than ever before, resonating like a year-long Christmas greeting.
Support for Kharkiv
Since the outbreak of the war, a private support initiative has emerged at the Max Planck Institute. More than 30 individuals from the Max Planck Society and the international fusion community have joined forces to provide ongoing support for 13 colleagues in Ukraine.
Since the outbreak of war, a private support initiative has taken shape at the Max Planck Institute. Those who wish to help - or are interested in founding a non-profit organisation (Friends of KIPT) to ensure long-term support and reconstruction - are invited to contact Andreas Dinklage at [email protected].
