Since the start of the Ukraine war, romance and parenthood have become distant dreams for those who remain. The conflict has forced Ukrainians to reevaluate their daily lives, including relationships and family planning, which are now shaping the country's future. With millions of women having left the country at the beginning of the 2022 invasion, and hundreds of thousands of men serving in the army or living abroad, the prospect of starting a family feels increasingly remote for those who stayed.
Khrystyna, 28, from Lviv, has been struggling to find a partner through dating apps. She notes that many men are afraid to go out due to conscription fears, while those who have returned from the front line are traumatized. Daria, 34, shares a similar sentiment, listing the types of men available to women like her: those trying to avoid conscription, soldiers in long-distance relationships, and men under the conscription age who could leave at any moment. None of these options appeal to her.
The consequences of this disruption are far-reaching. Marriages have decreased sharply from 223,000 in 2022 to 150,000 in 2024, and the birth rate has fallen to a record low of 0.9 children per woman. This decline in births, combined with emigration and deaths, is causing a dramatic drop in population, which in turn shrinks the workforce and slows economic growth. Oleksandr Hladun, a demographer, describes this as a "social catastrophe of war."
Even committed couples are affected by the uncertainty of war. Olena, 33, a policewoman and military instructor, is freezing her eggs due to health issues that make conception difficult. She and her husband plan to try IVF, but with consideration for her work and the country's situation. The war's impact on fertility is a concern for gynecologist Dr. Liubov Mykhailyshyn, who worries about chronic stress, sleepless nights, and physical and psychological trauma for those on the front line, all of which can cause fertility problems.
The Ukrainian government has developed strategies to tackle the problem, including affordable childcare and housing. However, these policies rely on local authorities and centralized funding, which often leads to projects not taking off. As long as women and children remain exposed to the dangers of war, state-level efforts might not find much success. The population decline in Ukraine is seen as a security threat, with Russia's larger demographic size posing an existential risk to the country.
The longer the war continues, the more uncertain the country's prospects for long-term recovery become. Planning a future feels fragile, and learning to live with the uncertainty is a form of survival.
