The harm that the russian federation’s massive aerial terror does not end with the civilian population and critical infrastructure, but extends further to affect the country’s institutional capacity. Systemic and sustained attacks are also negatively impacting the intellectual property sector, which is an integral part of the country’s legal, economic and innovation ecosystem.
The team of the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO, also known as the Ukrainian IP Office) continues to perform its duties despite the shelling, threats and losses brought on by the war. This is not just about the challenges for the State IP system in general. This is also about personal stories – when people lose their homes, valuables, belongings; everything they have created over the years is lost, all due to russian air strikes.
A brief list of recorded cases involving the UANIPIO employees over the last three months:
23–24 April 2025
The apartment of a professional working at the Department of IP Economics and Statistics, where her daughter lived, was destroyed; in addition, a public relations specialist’s car was damaged.
24–25 May 2025
Shattered windows and damaged homes of three specialists (a leading expert in the Construction, Mining and Transport Technology Sector; a leading expert in the TM and GIs Applications’ Substantial Examination Department; and a database administrator). Their apartments are located in the Shevchenkivskyi and Obolonskyi districts of Kyiv.
9–10 June 2025
A drone of the “Shahed” type struck the apartment of an expert authorised to establish the date for filing TM applications in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv. Her home and belongings were completely destroyed.
16–17 June 2025
As a result of the massive rocket attack, a block of the house where the computer systems engineer lived was totally blown apart; his apartment and property were also completely destroyed. During this massive russian attack, the dwellings of four more specialists were damaged: the blast wave smashed out the windows in the apartments, damaged personal belongings and a car.
22–23 June 2025
A rocket strike completely destroyed a block of the house in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv, where an employee of the Document Management Division lived. The apartment in which she lived and all her belongings were utterly destroyed. Thankfully, she managed to make it out from under the rubble.
Despite the destruction, loss of property and mental health strain, all people affected by the deliberate strikes to the apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure continue to work and perform their duties. The Ukrainian IP Office provides its affected staff with the necessary assistance as far as its capabilities and competence allow.
The massive air terror of the russian federation once again proves that russia is waging war not only against normal, peaceful life, but also against the intellectual, cultural and economic future of Ukraine. The aggressor is trying to destroy not only the physical presence, but also to erase Ukraine from the legal, political and economic contexts of the international field.
That is why, in the international platforms, particularly at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Ukrainian delegation consistently uses all available mechanisms to limit russia’s ability to exploit the international IP system’s platform for achieving its nefarious geopolitical intentions and terrorist pursuits.
Read also:
Sanctions against the aggressor in action: EU IP offices no longer accept applications from russians
No Comments