The Biology Department strongly condemns the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. We are deeply saddened by the suffering of the population and the many victims. We are shocked to see the shelling of cities and also of universities. Our thoughts are with the students, with the scientists who are now not studying or doing research but have to take up arms, who have to hide in air bunkers, are on the run or are even injured and dying. I know from my personal encounters that our fellow Russian students and researchers in the institutes of our university also condemn this attack and are deeply affected.

We in the Department of Biology endorse and support the University's efforts to help our fellow Ukrainian students. I call out to all students, researchers, and faculty in our department to take a united stand against this war and to advocate for a cessation of hostilities.

But we also think of the brave people in Russia who are taking to the streets against Putin and his war in Ukraine, demonstrating for peace and democracy and risking being brutally cracked down and imprisoned. We know that this is not a war of brotherly nations - this is Putin's war - and we do not want to forget that as we stand side by side with our Ukrainian and Russian friends for a peaceful and democratic Europe.

Research and teaching need freedom, peace and free exchange across all national borders. A war like the one being waged right now also poses an existential threat to this international freedom of research, especially for Ukraine, but also for us here at the University of Ulm.

Jan Tuckermann, Dean of Studies