The present issue of Strength of Materials concludes its volume 54, 2022 (six issues), containing 52 articles by authors from Ukraine and 66 articles by foreign authors from 24 countries, including Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Taiwan, Turkey, UK, USA, and Vietnam.

Since the journal foundation in 1969 in Kyiv, Ukraine, it was the first case of the journal preparation under force-majeure conditions of a full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine. While the first two journal issues were prepared under direct attacks from Russian troops trying to capture Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, the second two enjoyed a temporary alleviation with the ongoing liberation of occupied Ukrainian territories. However, preparation for the last two issues was hindered by temporary blackouts induced by Russian missiles and drones hitting the civilian power source and distribution infrastructure throughout Ukraine.

This journal is sponsored by the Ukraine State to expand our cooperation with the international scientific community, excluding any technical or scientific collaboration with our country’s enemies. Since February 24, 2022, no publications of authors from Russia and Belarus have been allowed in Ukrainian journals by the official decision of Ukraine state authorities. Given the above events, starting from volume 55, No. 1, 2023, no papers of authors from Iran, a country supplying drones for Russian attacks against Ukraine, will be accepted or published in our journal. Authors from all other countries, except Russia, Belarus, and Iran, will continue to enjoy free publications in our journal.

When this issue was under preparation, the sad news came of the sudden deaths of two prominent Ukrainian scientists who contributed to this journal’s organization, promotion, and expansion. On November 30, 2022, Prof. Valery Troshchenko, Full Member of the National Academy of Sciences, ex-Editor-in-Chief of Strength of Materials (1988–2012), and ex-Director of Pisarenko Institute of Problems of Strength (1988–2012), died. On December 26, 2022, Prof. Volodymyr Stryzhalo, a Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Associate Editor of Strength of Materials (1988–2022), suffered a heart attack and died.

By the unanimous decision of the Editorial Board and staff, this journal issue is in tribute to Prof. Valery Troshchenko and Prof. Volodymyr Stryzhalo.

Editor-in-Chief,

Prof. Oleksandr Chirkov

Associate Editor

Dr. Oleksandr Khotsyanovskyi

Head of Editorial Staff

Valery Naumenko