Prominent neuroscientist and biochemist: renowned scientist couple killed in Kyiv in Russian attack

On the morning of 1 January, a Russian drone attack on Kyiv claimed the lives of two renowned scientists, Olesia Sokur and Ihor Zyma.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda. Life, citing Professor Mykola Makarchuk and Andrii Cherninskyi, a lecturer at the Kyiv School of Economics

Details: The scientist couple worked at the Institute of Biology and Medicine at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, conducting research in various fields of biology.

Their colleague and friend, Professor Mykola Makarchuk of the Institute of Biology and Medicine, shared his memories of the couple with Ukrainska Pravda. Life.

Scientific contributions made by Ihor Zyma and Olesia Sokur

Mykola Makarchuk recalled meeting Ihor Zyma at Kyiv University in the late 1970s. They soon got to know each other, as both were studying and doing research at the Department of Human and Animal Physiology.

"We both wanted to study higher nervous activity – what is now called behaviour, cognitive and mental activity," the professor said.

Ihor Zyma and Mykola Makarchuk conducted joint scientific research, starting with studying rats. Their work involved methods that were advanced for the time, including inserting electrodes into the animals’ brains and using cutting-edge stereotaxic devices produced by the O.O. Bohomolets Institute of Physiology.

The researchers successfully guided electrodes into specific parts of the brain to study them.

Quote from Makarchuk: "Using certain coordinates on the skull, stereotaxis [a minimally invasive method to access the brain – ed.] enabled the electrodes to target specific brain areas, either to destroy them or to record their electrical activity.

We studied a brain structure of great importance even today – the amygdala. Gradually, we examined how odours affect the electrical activity of the rat's brain."

Details: These studies later formed the foundation of their PhD theses.

Ten to fifteen years later, their research expanded to human studies without direct bodily intervention. The scientists had a wide range of research interests, initially studying the human brain’s responses to odours and later exploring the impact of stress factors and emotional behaviour.

Quote from Makarchuk: "This evolved into creating comprehensive electrophysiological studies, which we conducted on humans. Ihor even established an entire laboratory for this, actually founding a scientific school." 

More details: Taras Shevchenko National University revealed that Ihor Zyma dedicated over 50 years of his life to studying and working at the university, achieving significant milestones in neuroscience and authoring over 360 scientific and methodological publications.

Quote from Makarchuk: "There used to be a paradox in science when it was believed that smells and olfaction were rudimentary and insignificant for humans. To be honest, our research 20-30 years ago was not perceived as it is now.

Even Covid-19 demonstrated that this is one of the systems that is most affected. Neurodegenerative diseases are extremely complex, but their first symptoms are olfactory dysfunctions."

Makarchuk added that Zyma later continued studying how the brain perceives a range of stimuli, such as facial expressions and speech. These studies became part of the documentary The Nation’s Code, in which the researcher participated. 

More details: Olesia Sokur, Ihor Zyma’s wife, was a biochemist and also worked at the Institute of Biology and Medicine, where the couple first met. She headed the Scientific Research Laboratory of Physicochemical Biology.

Olesia Sokur had a PhD in biology and studied processes associated with gastrointestinal tract pathologies. She also possessed "great organisational talent", recalls Mykola Makarchuk.

Quote from Makarchuk: "I often interacted with Olesia because she was the deputy director for scientific work. She was absolutely dedicated to her field, and her work ethic was astounding. We would come in the morning and leave in the evening, but she was always in her office, meticulously completing her tasks." 

More details: During her scientific career, Olesia Sokur also worked at the Institute of Clinical Radiology of the Scientific Centre for Radiation Medicine at the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, where she defended her PhD thesis on antioxidant systems in territories affected by the Chornobyl disaster.

Overall, Olesia Sokur authored nearly 200 publications, earning recognition from the scientific community and making significant contributions to the development of biochemistry.

"His students deeply respected and admired him"

Mykola Makarchuk recalls that Ihor Zyma also taught a short course in electrophysiology. About five years ago, the scientist defended his doctoral thesis and was promoted to senior lecturer, where he demonstrated exceptional teaching skills, as he greatly enjoyed interacting with students.

Ihor Zyma taught courses on the biological foundations of brain function and brain disorders for students specialising in medical and neuropsychology.

Quote from Makarchuk: "His students deeply respected and admired him. It was especially evident that his courses were based not only on theoretical knowledge, but also on experimental and practical life experience. The students appreciated this approach, as they felt that their lecturer wasn’t merely presenting theoretical concepts, but sharing his personal experiences."

More details: Andrii Cherninskyi, a lecturer at the Kyiv School of Economics who studied and later worked at Taras Shevchenko National University, also shared his memories of Ihor Zyma.

Quote from Cherninskyi: "Ihor Zyma was the supervisor of my theses, as well as the inspiration and co-supervisor of my PhD thesis.

I joined his lab during my second year because I was interested in studying human brain activity, something I am partially still involved in today. Our team was like a real working family, with Ihor at its core." 

Details: Yurii Havrylechko, a former student of the Institute of Biology and Medicine, described Ihor Zyma as "a world-class scientist" who even 30 years ago was a renowned expert in the field of neurobiology and a science communicator.

Professor Mykola Makarchuk admitted that it is painful for him to speak about his friends in the past tense.

"We had been friends since our student years, and Ihor Zyma and I often spent time together in the countryside. We loved fishing, and later hunting. He was one of the people I’m closest to. It’s hard to believe this," Mykola Makarchuk said with emotion. 

Support UP or become our patron!