Lasting Effects of War on Ukrainian Families and Society

Enduring Grief in the Midst of Conflict

In the city of Lviv,nestled in western Ukraine,20-year-old university student Anastasiya Buchkouska carefully removes snow and ice from her father’s grave. She lingers for a moment, studying his photograph affixed to the tombstone, struck by how much they resemble each other.

Anastasiya’s father served in the military before being swiftly sent to frontline duty following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Their interaction gradually dwindled to brief messages offering fleeting comfort until September 2022, when all contact abruptly stopped.

For seven agonizing months he was officially declared missing. Despite overwhelming fears about his fate,Anastasiya held onto hope until confirmation arrived that he had died. The sorrow was immense but amid ongoing turmoil she felt compelled to persevere.

around this time, her uncle also lost his life due to the war. To support her grieving family members,Anastasiya devoted herself to caring for her grandmother-engaging her with conversations and small activities aimed at easing their shared pain.

though solitude often brought tears and heartache, she reminded herself not to be consumed by loss; survival demanded resilience amid relentless adversity.

The Immense Human Toll

Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv has seen a sharp rise in burials since early 2022 as casualties from fighting escalated rapidly. The cemetery expanded beyond its original limits but is now approaching full capacity as fatalities continue mounting across Ukraine.

Accurate casualty figures remain tough to verify; however recent estimates reveal that over 3 million Ukrainians have been displaced internally or forced abroad since hostilities intensified. In just one year-2025-official reports documented more than 3,000 civilian deaths directly linked to violence nationwide.

“The scale of human suffering is staggering,” remarked a mental health specialist working closely with veterans affected by trauma from eastern combat zones.

An independent research institute estimates combined military casualties on both sides exceed two million killed or wounded since February 2022-making this conflict one of Europe’s deadliest since World War II.
Russian forces reportedly suffered around 1.3 million losses including over 350 thousand fatalities while Ukrainian troops endured between half a million and six hundred thousand casualties during fierce battles near cities such as Bakhmut and mariupol.

The Widespread Mental Health Crisis

The psychological impact extends far beyond physical wounds or death tolls: nearly every Ukrainian experiences some form of mental distress related either directly or indirectly to war conditions.
Neurologist Kseniia Voznitsyna-the founder of Ukraine’s first rehabilitation center dedicated exclusively to veterans’ mental health-noted pervasive anxiety about future stability among survivors:

• “Uncertainty shadows everyday life,” she explains;
• “Many live with amputations alongside invisible scars like PTSD.”

The economic situation remains fragile: job security is unstable while damage inflicted on infrastructure disrupts vital services such as electricity and water supply during harsh winters when Russian strikes target critical facilities nationwide-including major urban hubs like Kyiv and Kharkiv where millions reside.

Courage Amid Uncertainty: Stories From Those affected

Buchkouska reflects quietly at her father’s resting place: “If peace ever returns we will celebrate,” she says softly,“but those who have fallen cannot be brought back.”

“Trauma does not define us,” Buchkouska asserts.
“our true identity emerges through how we face hardship together-how we fight under impossible circumstances-and how we support each other.”

A Nation Living Under Constant Threat

nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk emphasizes that enduring continuous bombardment instills widespread fear:
“No place within Ukraine offers sanctuary from missile attacks,” says Matviichuk.
She highlights how unpredictability governs daily existence-with planning even hours ahead rendered impossible due to sudden strikes disrupting lives without warning.

This reality resonates deeply among families like Nadia Zvonok’s whose granddaughter vanished during occupation periods marked by violence against civilians-a poignant reminder that behind statistics lie countless personal tragedies shaping collective memory forever shadowed by war’s devastation.

A Collective Spirit Rooted in Resilience

• Anastasiya’s experience mirrors thousands coping daily with loss yet refusing despair;
• Mental health professionals report soaring demand for psychological support services;
• Civil society organizations tirelessly advocate for rights amidst chaos;