Dear Members of the Mechanochemistry Community,

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Academician Vladimir Vyacheslavovich Boldyrev, a pioneering figure and giant in the field of solid-state chemistry and mechanochemistry, who died on November 9, 2025.

Academician Boldyrev was a towering presence in the scientific community for decades. He was a leading figure at the Institute of Solid State Chemistry and Mechanochemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Novosibirsk, which he directed for 23 years. His work laid much of the foundation for modern mechanochemistry, defining processes where chemical transformations are stimulated by mechanical force.

His international recognition included his election in 1988 as the founding president of the International Mechanochemistry Association of IUPAC. He was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology in 1993 and the Kurnakov Gold Medal in 2005, among many other honours.

Beyond his extensive research and numerous publications, Professor Boldyrev was a revered educator and mentor. He was the first in the USSR to teach solid state chemistry as a general university course, and many of his former students have gone on to hold leading positions in science worldwide. Even at the age of 98, he remained professionally active and affiliated with the Voevodskii Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion (SBRAS). His dedication and creativity will remain a constant source of inspiration to colleagues and the emerging generation of scholars in mechanochemistry.

His passing is an immense loss to the global scientific community. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Sincerely,

Vladimír Šepelák / Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

President, International Mechanochemistry Association of IUPAC