What three years of war have cost Ukrainian children
Kyiv, Ukraine, 17 February 2025 – Every week, an average of 16 children are casualties of war. Since the conflict started, 659 children have been killed and 1,747 have been injured.
Millions of Ukrainian children continue to have their lives shattered by daily violence, displacement, disrupted education, limited healthcare access, the effects of mental health disorders and trauma, family separation, and violations of their human rights.
“I want a Ukraine free of air raid sirens, free of bombs, free of war. I just want to be with my family,” said five-year-old Katya, from Bakhmut.
Nearly 4 % of households nationwide have at least one child living separately from their family. This figure is even higher in the east of the country, where hostilities are most intense. The massive displacement crisis has forced 3.6 million people to relocate within Ukraine, and about 6.5 million have fled abroad. Out of these 6.5 million refugees, 90% are women and children.
Among the 3.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), 59% are women. “After two years of being displaced, I’ve considered returning home many times. Reality is harsh there. People barely leave the basements. But as internally displaced, most of us can’t afford the bare minimum. Everything was taken from us, and resources are limited—there are just too many of us. How long can you rely on humanitarian help?” said Marina, 43, a mother of two currently relocated to Dnipro from Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk region.
Another cause of family separation is the loss of caregivers. As men are fighting on the frontlines, women become the sole breadwinners. “I lost nearly everything to war,” said Svitlana, a single mother who fled from Snihurivka, Mykolaiv Oblast. “My house is reduced to nothing more than debris.”
The cost of mental health
War has left an indelible toll on the mental health of children. A survey involving over 1,500 children, parents, and caregivers reveals a staggering reality: nine out of 10 children are grappling with psychological and emotional stress. Among them, 73% report feeling unsafe or fearful, 64% struggle with a lack of interest in learning, and 54% experience sadness or low self-confidence.
“I have to force a smile to hide how I really feel inside,” shared Maria, 16, from Kyiv region.
“The emotional burden faced by Ukrainian children cannot be overlooked,” said Arman Grigoryan, World Vision Ukraine Crisis Response Director. “With over 1.5 million children at risk of PTSD and depression, the damage to their mental health is alarming.”
National-level estimates show that 49.6% of adolescents in Ukraine were directly exposed to the war. Among them, 32% screened positive for moderate or severe depression, 17.9% for moderate or severe anxiety, 35% for significant psychological trauma, 29.5% for eating disorders, and 20.5% for a medium to high risk of substance use disorder.
“We see death. We see destruction every day. There’s too much pain and sorrow,” said Hanna, a mother of two, from Dnipro.
The cost of safety
Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence (GBV) during times of crisis, conflict, and displacement. A study by World Vision and Girls revealed that in Ukraine adolescent girls are especially impacted, experiencing a greater loss of self-confidence and feelings of confusion compared to boys. Two in every five girls (37% and 39%, respectively) who experience GBV report losing self-confidence and feeling confused, compared to a quarter of boys (24% and 26%) after encountering psychological violence.
“Millions of Ukrainian women and girls are suffering from the devastating effects of gender-based violence. These survivors are often left without the support they desperately need, silenced by stigma and fear,” said Grigoryan.
The cost of education
Approximately across Ukraine 4 million children continue to have their education disrupted, with 600,000 schoolchildren unable to attend in-person classes at all. More than one in ten learning facilities have been damaged by the war, and over 20% have had to shut down due to a lack of bomb shelters.
Due to ongoing attacks and power disruptions, Ukrainian students could lose between 31 and 81 learning hours per month. Those relying on online learning may lose up to 160 hours per month.
“War is impacting educational processes. Children are at school, and then they have to go to the bunker 6 to 8 times a day. They start the lesson, and within 20 minutes, the class is interrupted again,” said Hanna, a mother of two from Dnipro. “In the bunker, they don’t study. Teachers try to distract them by playing games. It’s more psychological torture. Children have to deal with so much unpredictability every day.”
The damage to educational infrastructure is severe, with some 3,600 institutions affected, including nearly 2,000 schools, and around 371 educational facilities completely destroyed. In areas where schools remain operational, they are overwhelmed and face shortages of qualified teachers.
“I hope the war will end soon, and I can continue my education without fear for my life,” said Andriy, 16, from Kyiv region.
Ukrainian children deserve a life of peace, dignity, and safety – free from fear and suffering, where their rights are upheld, and their futures are protected. “The violence must end, and peace must be restored – for the sake of every Ukrainian child,” said Grigoryan. “We must act now to protect these children and provide them with the support they need to survive and rebuild their lives.”
World Vision has been on the ground in Ukraine since March 2022, reaching over 2.1 million people, including more than 970,000 children in need. In 2024 alone, World Vision Ukraine Crisis Response supported over 526,000 people, 38% of whom are children, in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Romania through protection, education, psychosocial support, livelihoods, basic needs, winterization, and cash assistance programs.
-ends-
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.wvi.org
For queries and media requests, please contact:
Laurentia Jora, WV UCR Advocacy & Communications Manager
Email: laurentia_jora@wvi.org