The psychological condition of Ukrainians during the war. Post-war perspectives

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The psychological condition of Ukrainians during the war. Post-war perspectives

Cheremisin Maksym Volodymyrovych

Graduate of the Doctoral School of the Institute of Linguistics,

PhD candidate Jan Dlugosz University, Ukraine/Poland

Summary

The article discusses the human toll of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. 7s of the time of writing, over 8 million people have fled Ukraine, with 5.3 million displaced internally and 1.2 million deported to Russia, including 150,000 children. The conflict has resulted in numerous casualties, including half a thousand children dead and over a thousand wounded due to Russian bombardments. Additionally, about 15,000 people are missing, and Ukraine has become the most mined country globally.

The author highlights the devastating impact on the psychological well-being of Ukrainians, describing various psychological traumas such as survivor's guilt, paranoia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The prolonged war, lasting 646 days at the time of writing, has led to the development of a military mentality among Ukrainian soldiers, making it challenging for them to readapt to a peaceful society. The article notes the difficulties in maintaining mental health, both for civilians and military personnel.

Key words. PTSD, invasion of Russia, psychological condition

Резюме

Психологическое состояние украинцев во время войны. Послевоенные перспективы

В статье обсуждаются людские потери в результате полномасштабного вторжения России в Украину. За 7 месяцев, прошедших с момента написания статьи, более 8 миллионов человек покинули Украину, из них 5,3 миллиона были перемещены внутри страны и 1,2 миллиона депортированы в Россию, в том числе 150 000 детей. Конфликт привел к многочисленным жертвам, в том числе полутысячи детей погибли и более тысячи получили ранения в результате российских бомбардировок. Кроме того, около 15 000 человек пропали без вести, а Украина стала самой заминированной страной в мире.

Автор подчеркивает разрушительное воздействие на психологическое благополучие украинцев, описывая различные психологические травмы, такие как чувство вины выжившего, паранойя и посттравматическое стрессовое расстройство (ПТСР). Затянувшаяся война, длившаяся на момент написания статьи 646 дней, привела к формированию военного менталитета у украинских солдат, что затрудняет их адаптацию к мирной жизни в обществе. В статье отмечаются трудности в поддержании психического здоровья как гражданских лиц, так и военнослужащих.

Ключевые слова. ПТСР, вторжение в Россию, психологическое состояние

The country is not a territory. The country is people. With the beginning of the full- scale invasion of Russia, 8 million people left Ukraine. 5.3 million Ukrainians were forced to resettle within the country. 1.2 million Ukrainians were deported to the Russian Federation (of which 1 50.000 were children). Half a thousand children died. More than a thousand children were wounded because of Russian bombardments. About 1 5.000 people went missing (of which 3400 Ukrainian military are in captivity, 1500 of them defended the city of Mariupol and held the defense at the Azovstal Metallurgical Combine for 86 days in a complete encirclement). All these terrible numbers concern people, not taking into account destroyed houses, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, dead animals, damages caused by the act of ecocide (the blowing up of Kakhovka Dam by Russian troops on June 6, 2023). Ukraine has become the most mined country in the world, even more than Syria and Afghanistan: the amount of mining is equal to half the area of Germany or a third of the area of France. All these terrible numbers are constantly growing, there are many sources providing their statistics, but it is impossible to calculate the exact number during the ongoing hostilities. The war affected almost every Ukrainian citizen. Everyone has a relative, friend, acquaintance, or even a child who defends the state with weapon in hands or who has suffered from the actions of the aggressor state.

At the time of writing this text, the author carefully observes the news in the world paradigm and draws the disappointing conclusions that the world community is tired of the eternally negative news from Ukraine. This is a feature of the human psyche. A person cannot constantly live in a negative atmosphere, but this is a terrible everyday routine of the Ukrainian nation. At the very beginning of the invasion, events developed very dynamically, for most people from abroad it looked like an action movie, where Ukrainians acted as fighters for goodness and freedom. The reality is much harsher. There is no such price that Russia is not ready to pay for achieving its bloodthirsty goals (we can recall the 40 million Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War). Therefore, the world has a rather twofold picture: the official authorities of the partner countries express support and even supply weapons, but on a personal and individual level, the citizens of these countries live their lives, some even think that the war has long been over and are not involved in any way. Calls to end aid to Ukraine have also become frequent. International law and world order were finally destroyed with the start of this war, which set off the trigger for other terrorist organizations to take more decisive actions to achieve their goals. Still, no one in the world shown the force that could force Russia to stop. Ukraine is left alone face-to-face fighting for surviving, but having western weaponry (in limited amounts, not to win as to hold the enemy). psychological stress ukrainian population war

Someone was left without a home and means of livelihood. Someone lost a relative, a friend, an acquaintance. A problem of loneliness takes place (feeling of being alone in the crowd, when you speak, everybody listen, but do not hear). A lot of us feel paranoia or different phobias. The author feels the syndrome of 'postponed life' or 'life in a flight mode'.

This person loses individuality. The body reacts in this way to long periods of stress, the impossibility of having basic needs (sleeping indoors under a roof, warmth, water, home-cooked food, family, etc.). We can also add here strict military discipline, difficulties in communication with personnel, with heads of units (especially if they are Soviet-style managers), etc. The problem of a military mentality is that it is very difficult to regain one's 'healthy' psyche back; such person will need to go through the process of adaptation to life in a calm and ordinary society.

Humor is one of the most important components of the Ukrainian mentality, which allows us all to keep going, despite everything. 'In order not to cry, I laughed' (L. Ukrainka). Despite the catastrophic situation, Ukrainian culture has risen with new strength. Many people began to switch to the Ukrainian language, and foreigners even began to teach it. Many new Ukrainian songs, mass media, Instagram and YouTube sources, humorous shows, memes, anecdotes and even puns began to appear. The Ukrainian song "Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow" ("Ой у лузі червона калина..") gained a new wave of popularity in 2022 after the performance by Andriy Hlyvnyuk in the first days of the Russian invasion and a cover version of the cult band "Pink Floyd" called "Hey, Hey, Rise Up!".

1. Massiveness. There is no family in Ukraine that has not been affected by the war. In Ukraine, many people witnessed military actions, people who were or are under occupation, experienced abuse, torture, injuries, rape, capture, the death of loved ones (seen with one's own eyes).

2. Traumatic experiences grow like a snowball. For example, the father of a 30- year-old military man found out that his son was left without legs and had a heart attack. The son is now in the hospital and says that he does not want to see anyone, does not want to be treated and does not want to live.

3. Children psychological traumas. Small children up to 3 years old refuse to start talking, show signs of anxiety and aggression. Older children and teenagers become more withdrawn, communicate less, have a regression in independence from their parents, and do not make new acquaintances because they are afraid of losing them. There is also a frequent issue of the fear of death, apathy, and depressive states. Children perform certain aggressive actions (for example, tearing toys) as a sign of longing for a lost parent.

4. Low level of psychological culture among the population. In Ukraine, people still do not have the habit of systematic work with a psychologist, psychotherapist, and sometimes they do not even start it. There are still many fakes and stereotypes about psychologists in society. People are often afraid to open up, shy to reach out, or selfconfident - they think that the symptoms of a traumatic experience are temporary.

5. Lack of professional psychotherapists who know how to work with war trauma. Lack of training of such specialists. There are cases that one specialist has to work with dozens of soldiers with amputated limbs. Therefore, these specialists are very exhausted from the colossal amount of work and insufficient time for own psychological recovery.

6. Lack of long-term recovery programs for people with traumatic experiences. For example, to recover from PTSD for one person, it takes 15 sessions during 3 months of systematic work. Moreover, in Ukraine, the number of such people consists from 6% to 33% of the population (military and civilians). We will be able to determine the final amount only in the post-war period, when we will feel completely safe. If people with PTSD symptoms are not provided with psychological help in time, it can develop into personality disorders, depression, and suicidal states.

7. Lack of quality equipment and approaches to psychodiagnosis of Ukrainians. Scientific laboratories, hospitals, diagnostic and rehabilitation centers need new and high-quality research equipment.

8. Unpreparedness of society, psychological and medical services for the return of the military. Even now, families often do not know how to behave with military personnel who return home for a week from the front. The same applies to psychologists and doctors who do not know what PTSD is.

9. Although Ukrainians are united, more than ever, in the fight against the enemy, at the same time, there are now signs of polarization in Ukrainian society on religious and linguistic grounds, between immigrants and native residents, people who remained in Ukraine, and those who went abroad, those who are fighting, and those who are not, etc.

10. Exaggerated expectations - life after victory. Many Ukrainians postpone their lives for later, expecting victory. There will be no miracle - the war will not end in one day. I can say that, on the one hand, I personally very much expect victory, at the same time, I am somewhat afraid of that period. A lot of information will become open, and the mobilized state of Ukrainians will pass and we will have another psychological crisis - post-war crisis and, most likely, more lasting. Both psychological illnesses and those resulting from chronic stress will appear. Therefore, from the first days of a full-scale war, we are making every effort to minimize the consequences of the war period.

1. Contact psychologists. Now there are many programs at public organizations, or even in the phone applications, where you can get quality psychological help.

2. If a psychologist or psychotherapist did not suit you, contact another one. It is like a doctor or a chef. You may not immediately find the one that suits you. This is completely normal.

3. Attend psychological trainings, psychological support groups.

4. If you have questions about your psychological conditions, but you are not yet ready to contact a psychologist, it is normal to write your requests to the community for a consultation. We are all in the same hard situation and there is nothing shy in discussion of a problem.

Conclusion

Ukraine needs to build and maintain infrastructure for disabled people, conduct trainings on proper communication with them, cultivate respect for the military, show initiative in helping them, implement programs of psychological, financial and material support, develop a system of benefits, simplify bureaucratic procedures and organize an adequate system of medical commissions. Ukraine requires qualified military psychologists. The author urges not to forget to actively participate in helping Ukraine. Ukraine is currently the impenetrable shield of Europe that does not allow a terrorist country to encroach on the sovereignty and independence of other free countries. Let us stand together. Together to the victory.

References

[1 ] Frankl, Viktor E. Man's search for meaning: an introduction to logotherapy. Boston: Beacon Press , 1962.

[2] Станчишин, В. Емоційні гойдалки війни. Віхола: 2022.

[3 ] Лісовський П. М. Військова психологія. Методологічний аналіз. Кондор: 2017.

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