The ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia has had catastrophic humanitarian, economic, and geopolitical consequences globally. Over 5 million Ukrainians have fled the country as refugees, seeking safety and shelter in neighboring countries like Poland, Romania, and Moldova. 30,000 civilians have been killed and injured, with at least 600 accounts in January 2024, alone.
Inside Ukraine, damages to infrastructure have left millions without access to electricity, heating, and other basic services, especially during the harsh Ukrainian winter. Beyond the physical destruction, the psychological damage runs deep. Young people now face an uncertain future as a mental health crisis threatens to cripple their dreams and aspirations. Many young Ukrainians express feelings of fear, anger, and despair as the constant threat of violence weighs heavily on their minds.
Amidst the ruins, their stories of courage, resilience, and determination emerge, imagining pathways for a better future for Ukraine.
Natalia is one of the 12 million people who have been displaced from their homes. Her house was destroyed in the Russian-occupied city of Irpin. Now, she coordinates mental health programs for ActionAid partner Insight. Photo: Anastasia Vlasova/ActionAid.
The impact of Russia’s aggression extends beyond displacement and casualty, where 14.6 million Ukrainians – 40% of the country’s population – live in dire need of humanitarian assistance. One-third of Ukrainian households have reported at least one member experiencing mental health problems, and another 10 million people are at risk of acute stress conditions. Education has been disrupted, opportunities are scarce, and the psychological impact of the war is profound, especially on young people.
A mental health crisis: shattered dreams, scarred minds
Over the past two years, ActionAid has partnered with nearly 40 women, minority, and youth-led organizations across Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Moldova, supporting over 2 million people.
Ksenia Ukolova, a 20-year-old Young Diversity Ambassador at ActionAid partner STAN, shares her reflections on the two-year crisis:
“We are facing a crisis; a psychological crisis [and] we are feeling drowned. Many people somehow are [psychologically] paralyzed because of anxiety and negative thoughts. They cannot keep it together and are unable to start [rebuilding] their lives.
After the fight, the armed war will be over (but) we will have mental war [still] and our country and our society is simply not used to welcome those people who survived. We are not open enough to understand and fulfill others’ needs because we are concentrated on our specific personal ones.”
Many young Ukrainians express feelings of fear, anger, and despair. Two years on, the prospect of continued escalation casts a long shadow over their already uncertain future. Their sense of normalcy has disappeared, and the constant threat of violence weighs heavily on their minds.
Despite the immense challenges, the resilience of young Ukrainians shines through. Many are actively volunteering, participating in peacebuilding initiatives, and expressing their hopes for the Ukraine that they want.
ActionAid’s response prioritizes the needs and dreams of Ukranian youth
One of our partner organizations, STAN, works with internally displaced Ukrainian youth. They’re working to equip young people with the tools to cope with their trauma and make their voices heard in decision-making spaces.
Photo: Anastasia Vlasova/ActionAid
Yuliya, Education Coordinator with ActionAid partner, STAN, (pictured above), talks about the importance of prioritizing the psychosocial needs of over-looked groups, like women and young people. She shares:
“Young people are rarely heard, by adults, by people who have power. What we are doing is important. The interests of women, young people, and vulnerable groups can be denied by programs. All programs that are reconstructing infrastructure, buildings, and cities, should go together with social programs and connect people. It’s not only the physical buildings that were destroyed, but social contacts [relationships, support groups] were destroyed too.”
Past support from our ActionAid community has helped our local partners continue to provide members of marginalized groups with the resources they need to restore their physical and mental well-being as they endure this crisis. Through the safe spaces created and maintained by our partners, young people have been able to connect with each other and build a collective vision for what they want the future Ukraine to look like: inclusive, decolonized, and free.
Two years later, ActionAid’s commitment to the people of Ukraine remains. We will continue working with affected communities in need of support and protection, so that they can lead more dignified lives amidst crisis.
