"We will not speak in the aggressor country" - Letter from Natalia Ignatenko to ESVONC members

this message was approved by the Annual General Meeting of the ESVONC on 23rd May 2025

Dear ESVONC Members,

Since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, the European Veterinary Oncology Society has consistently supported Ukraine.
I know we are all tired of bad news; the world is tired of war. Many people believe the war in Ukraine is over or nearly over, something distant, “over there.” It may seem that science, conferences and the professional community, working for the benefit of animals, stand above politics.

That is precisely why I write now. The war is not over — it has raged for more than three years. Every single day, people, children and animals in Ukraine are killed. Hospitals, schools, zoos, veterinary clinics and nature reserves are destroyed. Our colleagues save lives under shelling; patients die not from disease but from missiles.

We must not forget that thousands of Ukrainians — civilians, soldiers and volunteers — remain in russian captivity, subjected to systematic torture and inhuman treatment. These are not abstract violations; they are real lives shattered by silence.

I therefore address this open letter to the members of the European Veterinary Oncology Society:

• Do not take part in any veterinary events held in russia — not as speakers, not as attendees, not as silent participants;
• Do not normalise cooperation with state institutions or associations that deny or conceal the war;
• Do not allow science to become a cloak that justifies violence.

This is not a call to hatred; it is a call to dignity. We must have the courage to say: we see what is happening and we will not pretend that everything is fine.

Many years ago, joining the European Veterinary Oncology Society quite literally changed my life, broadened my horizons and pointed me toward new goals. It gave me knowledge, support, a sense of community and faith in the power of veterinary medicine to unite people across borders. That is why your support means so much to me.

Let us remember: every conference, every lecture, every collaboration with russia is another rung on the ladder that normalises a war still killing children and animals each day.

I urge you to choose the side of truth, the side of life, and declare:
“We will not support violence. We will not speak in the aggressor country, nor support it in any way.”

I kindly ask you and the Society’s Secretariat to circulate this letter via the European Veterinary Oncology Society’s official bulletin so that it reaches all members.

With respect and hope for your support,
Natalia Ignatenko