The war in Ukraine has had a profound impact on young people living in the country. Drawing on new research, Mariia Zolkina, Max Fras and Elisabet Vives explore what young people think about the conflict and their hopes for the future.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is well into its third year. It has disrupted life across the country, making it harder for people, especially the young, to develop and flourish individually and socially. In a recent study, we dig deep into young Ukrainians’ lived experience of the war to understand its impacts on their current concerns, needs and hopes.

A profound impact

We designed an entirely qualitative research project that allowed us to explore the impacts of the war on young people at a more granular level than previous studies and understand the reasons and drivers behind them. As expected, we found the full-scale invasion has had a profound effect on young people. Most participants rated the impact of the war as extremely negative, either due to practical reasons, emotional distress or both.

One of the hardest-hit groups is Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). IDPs face unique challenges, including forced relocation, a lack of social networks, poverty and unemployment in their new places of residence. Lack of appropriate accommodation and basic home elements like furniture is another prominent challenge for IDPs, especially for those with young children.

Interestingly, over the course of the full-scale invasion, young people in Ukraine have developed a meaning of security that goes beyond the absence of violence. Security also includes stable housing and financial independence that is sustainable in the medium to long-term. This may explain, at least in part, the rationale for staying in actively shelled areas and discarding relocation if young people have stable housing and a job.

Unpredictability and fear

The unpredictability of the situation is one of the main sources of distress. This is directly linked to young people’s inability to plan for the future. A majority of participants do not plan beyond a month in advance, and that only includes household chores and meetings. Some young people plan no longer than a week in advance.

Focus group participants put this very clearly. A young woman living in an eastern Ukrainian city said “I don’t have any global plans. Because it’s scary to plan. I don’t plan to build a house or have children”, while a young man from a western town explained: “I have no plans. You can’t make plans if you don’t know whether you’ll stay here tomorrow or whether they’ll take you somewhere. What can be planned here?” The impossibility to plan seems to stem from feelings of fear and lead to feelings of frustration and emptiness, especially for those living in the eastern parts of Ukraine.

Nonetheless, young people have a general belief in the victory of Ukraine and society’s resilience once the war is over. Participants highlighted the importance of organisation at the grassroots level, while expressing a lack of trust in the ability of public institutions to effectively address people’s problems.

Although they see the war ending a few years into the future, a majority of participants are confident that Ukraine will prevail, and when that happens, they expect the country to join the European Union and NATO. There are, however, regional differences in the levels of confidence in Ukraine’s chances: while people living in the west are more optimistic, youth in the east (and Internally Displaced Persons coming from the east) see the pathway to victory less clearly.

Rejecting Russia

A key finding is that younger respondents demonstrate a stronger dedication to Ukrainian culture and a clear orientation away from Russian cultural products. However, our findings do not specify which formats of Ukrainian cultural products are preferred.

This rejection of Russian cultural products often creates tensions with friends and relatives, stemming from a consolidated Ukraine-centric mindset and limited tolerance among youth for pro-Russian views. The shift away from Russian cultural products is closely tied to rising patriotism among Ukrainian youth. At present, patriotic feelings are linked to low or absent tolerance for Russian cultural influences, which are increasingly perceived as part of a broader framework of aggression against Ukraine, alongside military and political actions.

The strongest resistance to Russian culture is observed among the youngest group (14-19 years old), aligning with their frequently expressed patriotism, national identity and commitment to Ukraine’s future, motivating them to remain and build their lives in the country. Consistent with this, young people (especially teenagers) demonstrate a strong interest and even commitment to participating in the reconstruction and boosting of the social and cultural life of their communities. This would include organising cultural and educational events.

However, although there is a clear intention among young people to continue living in Ukraine, there are two scenarios that may significantly alter these plans. On the one hand, young people identify the continued lack of resources (money and training) as a limitation. On the other hand, even the most determined to stay acknowledge they may be forced to flee if their region is occupied by Russia.

Supporting young people in Ukraine

We identify a series of recommendations for the British Council, who commissioned our research, and other actors wishing to support young people in Ukraine. First, it is important to prioritise local cultural and educational events and activities to promote young people’s active engagement. Second, survivor support must be included as a component in all funding programmes.

Third, it is necessary to provide additional support for vulnerable groups, enabling their participation in further activities. Fourth, specific projects and activities with teaching staff should be funded to improve the quality of young people’s education provision during wartime.

Fifth, where possible, online activities should be replaced or augmented with in-person activities. Sixth, cultural activities should be planned in Ukraine that reflect the growing trend to prioritise local culture. Finally, free courses offered for the secondary education level should be enhanced and developed further.

By exploring how students and young people perceive the role of education in shaping their future amidst ongoing war, our research adds nuanced insights about the resilience, aspirations and concerns of Ukrainian youth. Our findings highlight the crucial link between educational development and the retention of youth in Ukraine, shedding light on the necessity for reforms, psychological support mechanisms and infrastructure improvements to sustain educational continuity during crises.

However, significant gaps remain, particularly in understanding the long-term impacts of conflict on educational outcomes and the effectiveness of interventions aimed at supporting academic staff and students. Nevertheless, our work provides a foundation of knowledge that enhances confidence in drawing conclusions and formulating targeted recommendations for policymakers, international agencies and local stakeholders.

For more information, see the authors’ accompanying study, commissioned by the British Council from LSE Consulting’s Education, Youth and Civic Engagement Hub.

Note: This article gives the views of the authors, not the position of EUROPP – European Politics and Policy or the London School of Economics. Featured image credit: Pandora Pictures / Shutterstock.com