On January 19, 2026, a revised Procedure for the Formation of the List of Professional Scientific Publications of Ukraine was approved (Order No. 56, registered on January 28, 2026). The decision was adopted in response to ongoing discussions within the academic community and the challenges facing academic publishing in recent years.

Why Were the New Regulations Introduced?
The updated regulations are aimed at systematically improving the quality of Ukrainian scientific journals and enhancing their integration into the global scientific community. The reform was prompted by several factors, including:
• a decline in the quality of some scientific publications;
• the spread of unethical publishing practices, including authorship trading, metric manipulation, and fake peer review;
• the lack of effective oversight mechanisms;
• reputational damage resulting from the removal of a number of Ukrainian journals from international indexing databases.

Transitional Period

All Category B journals currently included in the List will retain their status until June 1, 2026. During this transition period, editorial boards are expected to adapt to the new requirements.
Key Innovations
1.New selection cycle:
• applications are submitted once every three years (February 1 – April 30);
• a rating of journals is established within disciplinary clusters;
• category B status is granted for a period of three years.

1.Digitalization of Procedures
Submission and verification of documents will be carried out through the national URIS system.

2. Strengthened Quality Control
   • annual increase in publication volume of no more than 50%
   • maximum one article per author in one issue;
   • monitoring of compliance with ethics by a special commission;
   • possibility of exclusion from the List for systematic violations.

Geopolitical Restrictions

• a ban on editors/reviewers from aggressor states;
• a ban on co-authorship with individuals who have engaged in scientific collaboration after February 24, 2022.
📊 New criteria for category "B"

Basic requirements:

• the journal has existed for at least 2 years;
• each article has a DOI;
• at least 9 editorial board members (with a limitation on the representation of the founder);
• at least 2 foreign editors;
• one researcher may serve on up to three editorial boards.

Requirements for editors:
Each member of the editorial board must have at least 3 publications in international databases in 5 years or equivalent scientific achievements.

Journal Website Requirements
• Ukrainian and English versions;
• AI usage policy;
• peer review guidelines;
• information on article processing charges (APCs);
• dates of article submission;
• secure HTTPS connection.

🧮 Evaluation system
• maximum passing score — 30;
• minimum passing threshold — 9;
• the evaluation takes into account more than 10 indicators, including:

o the share of foreign authors;
o citations in international databases;
o the share of DOI in the literature lists;
o the level of open access;
o geographical diversity of authors.

Support for Early-Career Researchers
Journals receive additional points if they waive publication fees for publicly funded PhD candidates.
Who Will Pass the New Selection (Forecast)
According to expert estimates, only 10–20% of Category B journals are expected to meet the new requirements.
The following have a high chance:

• publications with 2–6 issues per year;
• a moderate number of articles (10–20 per issue);
• an international editorial board;
• high-quality peer review.

At risk of exclusion are:
• journals with mass issues;
• publications without real peer review;
• journals with low international representation of authors.

🌍 What does this mean for science
The reform effectively introduces a new model of scientific communication in Ukraine, combining:
• transparent criteria;
• digital tools;
• international ethical standards.

Expected Outcomes
 increased trust in Ukrainian publications
 increased prestige of national journals
 greater representation of Ukraine in international scientometric databases

Conclusion: The new Procedure is not merely a technical update but a comprehensive reform that will define the rules of academic publishing in Ukraine for years to come. For editorial boards, it represents a challenge; for researchers, it introduces new standards; and for science as a whole, it offers an opportunity for qualitative advancement.