Ukraine sends another expedition to Antarctic station

MOSCOW. March 20 (Interfax) - Ukraine sent its 28th expedition to the Akademik Vernadsky Antarctic station on March 18, Ukrainian media reported, citing the National Antarctic Scientific Center.

"We have to ensure the continuous operation of our only Antarctic station, as the results of the activities of Ukrainian scientists are important for the whole world. This is a number of the longest Antarctic meteorological observations, study of climate change, space weather and the magnetic field of the Earth," Director of the Ukrainian National Antarctic Scientific Center Yevgeny Diky was quoted by the media as saying in his statement.

The expedition consists of 14 members, including nine scientists, three in each area of research (biology, meteorology and geophysics), as well as a doctor, a cook, a system administrator, a system mechanic and a diesel engineer. The mission will operate at the station for a year.

"The team is led by geophysicist Bogdan Gavrilyuk. It is his tenth trip to Antarctica for the winter, and it is an absolute record for the Ukrainian Antarctic expeditions. In his previous expedition, which was the 26th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition, Bogdan was a base commander, too," the center said.

For the first time in the last five years, the expedition consists only of men. "Unfortunately, only five women (last year there were 19) applied for this competitive selection, but they failed to pass all the stages of the selection process," the scientific center said.

As noted, the expedition members travelled to Poland, and from there they will fly to South America, where in the Chilean port of Punta Arenas, the Noosphere icebreaker is waiting for them. It will deliver the 28th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition to the station and return the 27th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition, which has already operated in Antarctica for a year, to the mainland.