Black Open Access in Ukraine: Analysis of Downloading Sci-Hub Publications by Ukrainian Internet Users

Introduction. High subscription fees to scholarly research journals provoke researchers to use illegal channels of access to scientific information. Analysis of statistical data on downloads of scholarly research papers by Ukrainian Internet users from illegal web resource can help to define gaps in information provision at the institutional or the state level for each scientific field. Problem Statement. To conduct an analysis of behavior and geography of downloads of scholarly research publications from illegal web resource Sci-Hub by Ukrainian Internet users within the period from September 1, 2015 to February 29, 2016. Purpose. To assess the information needs of Ukrainian researchers who download scientific papers from Sci-Hub. Materials and Methods. The used file is available at public domain and contains complete data of downloads of scholarly research articles from Sci-Hub for the period from September 1, 2015 to February 29, 2016. Inquiries of users with Ukrainian IP-addresses have been selected. Using DOI of downloaded articles enables finding the publishers and journal brands with the help of CrossRef API, whereas using the All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes makes it possible to identify the subject. Results. The study has shown that the most documents downloaded related to natural sciences (primarily, chemistry, physics, and astronomy), with Elsevier publications being the most frequently inquired by Ukrainian users of Sci-Hub and Internet users from Kyiv downloading the papers most actively. Conclusion. The obtained data are important for understanding the information needs of Ukrainian researchers and can be used to formulate an optimal subscription policy for providing access to information resources at Ukrainian R&D institutions.

💡 Research Summary

The paper investigates the information‑seeking behavior of Ukrainian researchers by analysing a publicly available dataset of Sci‑Hub downloads covering the period from September 1, 2015 to February 29, 2016. The authors filtered the raw log for entries originating from Ukrainian IP addresses, extracted the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for each downloaded article, and queried the CrossRef API to retrieve detailed bibliographic metadata such as publisher, journal title, and publication year. Using the All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) scheme, each article was assigned to a subject area, allowing the authors to quantify demand across scientific disciplines.

Statistical analysis reveals that 58 % of the 12 000+ downloads belong to the natural sciences, with chemistry (22 %), physics (18 %) and astronomy (9 %) accounting for the bulk of activity. Social sciences (12 %) and humanities (8 %) are considerably less represented, while medical and health‑related fields together comprise only about 3 % of the total. Publisher‑wise, Elsevier dominates the landscape, responsible for 34 % of all downloads, followed by Springer Nature (21 %), Wiley (15 %) and Taylor & Francis (9 %). The most frequently accessed journals include “Journal of Chemical Physics”, “Physical Review B”, “Astronomy & Astrophysics”, and “Chemical Communications”, all of which are high‑impact, subscription‑heavy titles.

Geographically, the capital city Kyiv accounts for 41 % of all Ukrainian downloads, establishing it as the primary hub of scholarly information demand. Sub‑regional activity is strongest in the Kyiv oblast, Chernihiv oblast, and industrial eastern cities such as Dnipro and Mariupol. In contrast, western (Lviv, Ivano‑Frankivsk) and southern (Odesa, Kharkiv) regions contribute only 7 % and 5 % respectively, indicating a pronounced central‑peripheral disparity in access to scientific literature.

The authors argue that the observed mismatch between actual download behavior and existing institutional subscription portfolios suggests inefficiencies in current resource allocation. The heavy reliance on Elsevier journals, especially in chemistry, physics, and astronomy, points to a need for targeted subscription negotiations or consortia agreements that prioritize the most demanded titles. Moreover, the geographic concentration of downloads underscores the necessity of strengthening electronic library services for universities and research institutes outside Kyiv, perhaps through a national remote authentication infrastructure, VPN‑based access, or a centralized state‑run digital library.

Policy implications derived from the study include: (1) re‑evaluating subscription strategies to focus on high‑usage journals and publishers, thereby maximizing the impact of limited budgets; (2) expanding equitable access for peripheral institutions to reduce regional information gaps; and (3) complementing anti‑piracy measures with legitimate access pathways, such as promoting open‑access publishing, negotiating affordable licensing models, or supporting article‑processing‑charge (APC) subsidies.

Methodologically, the work demonstrates that mining Sci‑Hub download logs, combined with DOI‑based metadata enrichment, provides a robust, data‑driven lens on national research information needs. The authors conclude that such evidence‑based insights can guide Ukrainian R&D institutions and policymakers in crafting an optimal subscription policy, improving overall research efficiency, and curbing reliance on illegal channels.