Subject: [SLR-Mail] No.2752: Message to the ILRS Community from the ILRS Governing Board. From: ”Pearlman, Michael R. (Mike)” Dear ILRS Colleagues: As you are all aware, the shocking events that saw the Russian invasion of Ukraine have caused a great deal of concern and worry, including among members of our community. Our hearts and minds are with the people who have seen their lives directly affected by this dreadful situation, some of our own colleagues among them. We hope for a swift and peaceful conclusion to this crisis. The ILRS has worked with the IAG and the other Services to issue a statement of concern regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A copy of the statement is included below. We have discussed these matters within the EUROLAS subnetwork, in the Network and Engineering Standing Committee, and at the Governing Board level. The ILRS expressed its position in its message of March 3rd, which we reiterate here with some additional updates. The IAG and its Services, including the ILRS, by their charters are non-political cooperative international scientific organizations and do not have the authority to dictate specific actions to their members in reaction to the Russian invasion. As noted in the IAG statement ***For the past 150 years, the International Association of Geodesy has been an enduring and politically neutral forum for dialogue and collaboration for geodetic scientists and engineers around the world, through its various research bodies and technical services. *The IAG has worked through many crises over the years to hold the science community together and keep our channels of communication open. With all of this in mind, the ILRS has reminded individual ILRS member institutions that it is for them to examine the relevant sanctions, governing institutional policies, and their own consciences to guide any actions that they might take. ILRS member institutions not only have the freedom to act as they and their funding bodies consider appropriate, but also have the opportunity to share their views on these matters through the ILRS committees, meetings, and mailing lists. Tracking data of GNSS satellites is collected by the ILRS for scientific use and benefits the scientific community whether released immediately or withheld until a later date. As noted on the ILRS priority list, Stations may adjust priorities to accommodate local conditions such as system capabilities, weather, and special program interests”. Our ILRS members, through a combination of stations no longer observing GLONASS satellites, and stations and Data Centers withholding and archiving data, have essentially halted the flow of GLONASS data since the beginning of March. The actions taken by our ILRS members, and their public announcements, are consistent with accommodating their special program interests, expressing their view on the severity of the situation and making a strong statement about freedom of speech and action within our community. Once again, we sincerely hope that the conflict in Ukraine comes to a peaceful end as soon as possible. With our best wishes, ILRS Governing Board *IAG Statement on Ukraine* The International Association of Geodesy and its services strongly condemn the unprovoked and premeditated Russian invasion of Ukraine. We are deeply troubled by the loss of life and hundreds of thousands of civilians becoming refugees, and are very concerned about the safety and well-being of our scientific colleagues in Ukraine. We strongly request that the responsible people stop the military actions immediately. For the past 150 years, the International Association of Geodesy has been an enduring and politically neutral forum for dialogue and collaboration for geodetic scientists and engineers around the world, through its various research bodies and technical services. IAG aligns with the recent statement of the International Science Council , which *warns against the severe outcomes that conflict will have on the research and academic community. Our capacity to work collaboratively on global challenges, and on cutting edge research such as Arctic and space research, is only equal to our capacity to maintain strong collaboration amidst geopolitical turmoil. Ultimately the isolation and exclusion of important scientific communities is detrimental to all.* IAG is committed to continue advancing the equal participation and collaboration among geodesists of all peaceful nations, towards the development of geodetic applications and innovations for the benefit of our fragile global community. Our greatest desire is for peace, and we stand united with others worldwide calling for an immediate end to this violent attack. https://www.iag-aig.org/topic/324

Dear ILRS Colleagues:

As you are all aware, the shocking events that saw the Russian invasion of Ukraine have caused a great deal of concern and worry, including among members of our community. Our hearts and minds are with the people who have seen their lives directly affected by this dreadful situation, some of our own colleagues among them. We hope for a swift and peaceful conclusion to this crisis.

The ILRS has worked with the IAG and the other Services to issue a statement of concern regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A copy of the statement is included below. We have discussed these matters within the EUROLAS subnetwork, in the Network and Engineering Standing Committee, and at the Governing Board level. The ILRS expressed its position in its message of March 3rd, which we reiterate here with some additional updates.

The IAG and its Services, including the ILRS, by their charters are non-political cooperative international scientific organizations and do not have the authority to dictate specific actions to their members in reaction to the Russian invasion. As noted in the IAG statement For the past 150 years, the International Association of Geodesy has been an enduring and politically neutral forum for dialogue and collaboration for geodetic scientists and engineers around the world, through its various research bodies and technical services. The IAG has worked through many crises over the years to hold the science community together and keep our channels of communication open.

With all of this in mind, the ILRS has reminded individual ILRS member institutions that it is for them to examine the relevant sanctions, governing institutional policies, and their own consciences to guide any actions that they might take. ILRS member institutions not only have the freedom to act as they and their funding bodies consider appropriate, but also have the opportunity to share their views on these matters through the ILRS committees, meetings, and mailing lists.

Tracking data of GNSS satellites is collected by the ILRS for scientific use and benefits the scientific community whether released immediately or withheld until a later date. As noted on the ILRS priority list, Stations may adjust priorities to accommodate local conditions such as system capabilities, weather, and special program interests". Our ILRS members, through a combination of stations no longer observing GLONASS satellites, and stations and Data Centers withholding and archiving data, have essentially halted the flow of GLONASS data since the beginning of March. The actions taken by our ILRS members, and their public announcements, are consistent with accommodating their special program interests, expressing their view on the severity of the situation and making a strong statement about freedom of speech and action within our community.

Once again, we sincerely hope that the conflict in Ukraine comes to a peaceful end as soon as possible.

With our best wishes,

ILRS Governing Board

IAG Statement on Ukraine

The International Association of Geodesy and its services strongly condemn the unprovoked and premeditated Russian invasion of Ukraine. We are deeply troubled by the loss of life and hundreds of thousands of civilians becoming refugees, and are very concerned about the safety and well-being of our scientific colleagues in Ukraine. We strongly request that the responsible people stop the military actions immediately.

For the past 150 years, the International Association of Geodesy has been an enduring and politically neutral forum for dialogue and collaboration for geodetic scientists and engineers around the world, through its various research bodies and technical services. IAG alignswith therecent statement of the International Science Council, which warns against the severe outcomes that conflict will have on the research and academic community. Our capacity to work collaboratively on global challenges, and on cutting edge research such as Arctic and space research, is only equal to our capacity to maintain strong collaboration amidst geopolitical turmoil. Ultimately the isolation and exclusion of important scientific communities is detrimental to all.

IAG is committed to continue advancing the equal participation and collaboration among geodesists of all peaceful nations, towards the development of geodetic applications and innovations for the benefit of our fragile global community. Our greatest desire is for peace, and we stand united with others worldwide calling for an immediate end to this violent attack.

https://www.iag-aig.org/topic/324