“I have to force a smile.” 

Children continue to bear the brunt of war in Ukraine after three years of conflict 

Press Release, 17 February 2025 - “I have to force a smile to hide how I really feel inside,” shared Maria, 16, from the Kyiv region of Ukraine. She is one of the many children whose lives have been shattered by daily violence, displacement, disrupted education, and more since the outbreak of conflict in Ukraine in February 2022. 

With an average of 16 children being casualties of the war every week since the conflict started - totaling 659 children killed and 1,747 injured – children’s stories highlight the real-life atrocities and long-term effects of the conflict. 

“I want a Ukraine free of air raid sirens, free of bombs, free of war. I just want to be with my family,” says five-year-old Katya, from Bakhmut. “I hope the war will end soon, and I can continue my education without fear for my life,” adds Andriy, 16, from Kyiv region.

“We see death. We see destruction every day. There’s too much pain and sorrow,” explains Hanna, a mother of two, from Dnipro. “Teachers try to distract them by playing games. It’s more psychological torture. Children have to deal with so much unpredictability every day.” 

As the third anniversary of the conflict is marked, international children’s charity World Vision is reminding the world of the ongoing need and hardship faced by families and children in Ukraine. 

“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.” 

A summary of some of the key impacts on children and families caught up in the conflict include: 

• Displacement - 3.6 million people relocated within Ukraine, and about 6.5 million have fled abroad. Out of these 6.5 million refugees, 90% are women and children, with 59% of internally displaced persons being women. 74% of those in Ukraine report separation from a close family member due to conflict. 
• Psychological trauma – Children and families continue to feel the effects of conflict psychologically, including fear, anxiety, depression, PTSD, sensitivity to loud sounds, problems with sleeping, feelings of low self-worth, and much more. Adults are affected too, facing challenges with employment, raising children, and their own stresses.
• Gender-based violence – Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence (GBV) during times of crisis, and a study by World Vision and Girls revealed that in Ukraine adolescent girls are especially impacted by GBV, experiencing a greater loss of self-confidence and feelings of confusion compared to boys.
• Educational disruption - 4 million children continue to have education disrupted, with 600,000 children 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, with around 371 educational facilities destroyed. Due to ongoing attacks and power disruptions, Ukrainian students could lose between 31 and 81 learning hours per month. Even in areas where schools remain operational, they are overwhelmed and face shortages of qualified teachers. 

“After two years of being displaced, I’ve considered returning home many times,” says Marina, a mother of two relocated to Dnipro from Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk region. “Reality is harsh there. People barely leave the basements. But as internally displaced people, 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?”  

“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. The violence must end, and peace must be restored – for the sake of every Ukrainian child. We must act now to protect these children and provide them with the support they need to survive and rebuild their lives," adds Grigoryan.

World Vision has been working 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, winterisation, and cash assistance programs. 

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For more information, please contact Sam Bishop at sam.bishop@worldvision.org.uk  

At World Vision, our focus is on helping the world’s most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. For over 70 years, we have worked together with communities – of all faiths and none – even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith. Thanks to our supporters globally, we work in almost 100 countries and have changed the lives of over 200 million children in the past five years alone.   

When you give to World Vision, you know your donations will be well spent, for the greatest impact. We always work alongside communities, with a focus on the most vulnerable children and families helping them overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. So, you know your donations will go to the children in greatest need.