The psychological impact of the war in Ukraine

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EYEWITNESS

The psychological impact of the war in Ukraine

Photography by Tom Nicholson, October 2023.

As the conflict continues in Ukraine, people are struggling with the long term mental health impact of the violence. Photojournalist Tom Nicholson travelled to Dnipro to document the stories of people being supported by Humanity & Inclusion's teams.

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In Tsarychanka, a small town 80 km northwest of Dnipro, people affected by the conflict are trying to rebuild their lives. The town has received 1,700 internally displaced people (IDPs) since February 2022. With a population of just over 7,000 before the war, those who chose to stay are dealing with a quieter, longer term crisis.

Olena is smiling in front a background of trees and greenery throwing leaves in the air. She has red hair, glasses and a colourful scarf.

Olena © Tom Nicholson/HI

Olena Sulzuyk

Olena Sulzuyk, 56, is an artist, a journalist and musician, not to mention a foundation of the village community. She takes part in HI’s mental health and psychosocial support sessions in Tsarychanka to help people cope with living through the conflict.

Olena says: "[It’s a] war on everyone. Therefore, people need psychological relief, positive emotions, psychological support, so as not to go crazy from the war, because life goes on.”

“Now, a bloody war is going on in Ukraine. People suffer every day from anxieties, worries, rocket attacks and destruction… everyone is suffering - both those who are under occupation and those who are in relative peace.”

Olena is leaning on a desk and writing on a big piece of paper. 2 women are standing around her and looking at what she is writing, 2 women are sitting in the back and looking at Olena writing.

Olena Sulzuyk taking part in a mental health and psychosocial support session run by HI. © Tom Nicholson/HI

An female HI staff is crouching down and smiling at Olena and other women sitting on chairs in a circle.

Olena Sulzuyk taking part in a mental health and psychosocial support session run by HI. © Tom Nicholson/HI

Today, the theme of the session is ‘Autumn’, allowing participants to explore their emotions associated with the changing of the seasons.

Olena shares a poem about “optimism and love for life” during autumn. One part reads:

“Coupled with insomnia, the nights become more frequent
And for no reason - tearful eyes
No longer a cuckoo - a magpie chirps
And a stubborn soul does not want to believe in autumn.”

Yevhen Loik

Yevhen, 48 has cerebral palsy. He had to flee his hometown with his wife when the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Shortly after the move, Yevhen found out his wife had cancer and they both went to live with his parents Volodymyr and Vira who had flee to Tsarychanka.

Yevhen’s wife sadly died in October 2022.

Yevhen is sitting on a brown sofa with his mother sitting next to him and his father standing behind them.

Yevhen with his parents © Tom Nicholson/HI

Yevhen and his parents participate in HI’s mental health sessions. They describe the experience as, “like food for the soul to meet people who are going through the same experiences, fleeing from the war.”

Yevhen’s parents are cooking in their kitchen that has flowery wallpaper.

Yevhen's parents cooking. © Tom Nicholson/HI

Yevhen is sitting on a brown sofa. He is wearing a black jumper.

Yevhen © Tom Nicholson/HI

Olha Vetkova and Volodymyr Vetkov

Olha, 32, and her husband Volodymyr, 49 have 7 children. Olha is pregnant with their eight child.

Olha, Volodymyr and their family are standing up and posing for a photo in their bedroom.

Olha, Volodymyr and their family. © Tom Nicholson/HI

In 2021, the family bought a house, 9km away from what became a frontline in the war in 2022. Three weeks after the invasion in February 2022, Volodymyr piled his family into their car, and drove them to an Internally Displaced Person's (IDP) camp near Dnipro. They now live in a one bedroom house in Babaikiv.

Olha and Volodymyr are standing outside their house. Olha is smiling.

Olha and Volodymyr standing outside their house. © Tom Nicholson/HI

Olha and Volodymyr's children are sitting on the floor in their bedroom, playing.

Olha and Volodymyr's children. © Tom Nicholson/HI

“I hope for peace for my country and peace for my children.”

War has left some scars on their children, especially their five year old son who screams and becomes hysterical when he hears the sound of any aircraft. As the children are getting older, Volodymyr feels the need for at least one room for the boys, and another for the girls, and particularly for their daughter Olena, who has Cerebral Palsy. She loves drawing and studying.

Antonina Kolytova

Antonina, 68, is from Vuhledar a city right on the front line of the conflict in Ukraine. She is now an internally displaced person with her husband. Antonina has cancer and suffered a stroke. She receives chemotherapy and struggles with mobility. HI’s physiotherapist Maria supports her and shows her some strength training exercises that Antonina can practise at home.

Antonina is sitting on an armchair and a female HI staff is holding her hand.

HI’s staff is smiling at Antonina while she is using her walker in her house.

Antonina is holding her husband’s arm while a female HI staff is also supporting her.

Serhii Zinovatyi

Serhii, 36, is from Avdiivka, Ukraine, and now lives in an IDP camp in Pavlohrad, Ukraine. He and his mother have already lived through more than 10 years of war. Serhii used to be a chef, but on 30 January 2016, a grad rocket landed near Serhii in his hometown of Avdiivka, causing him life-changing injuries.

Serhii is standing outside his shelter with his hands in his pockets.

A male HI staff and Serhii are standing in front of his shelter, talking. HI’s staff has his hand on Serhii’s shoulder and is wearing a mask.

Serhii is sitting on his bed and a male HI staff is standing in front of him showing him exercises putting hands behind his back.

Initially, the doctors said Serhii wouldn’t be able to walk, but after a lot of training and physio, he can now walk with a mobility assistance device. Rostyslav, one of HI’s physiotherapists helps with his physical rehabilitation and also provides psychological support.

Life in the IDP camp is isolating. Serhii doesn’t have many friends, but his mother lives in the next village, and visits him every day.

Irena Strelets

Many healthcare professionals in Ukraine are reporting symptoms of burn-out, including depression, apathy, hopelessness, and loss of meaning in life and work. Irena Strelets, one of HI’s psychologists, leads stress resistance training for these healthcare professionals.

Irena teaches support staff how to manage their own cumulative stress as a result of high workload, psychological pressure and post-traumatic stress disorder.

A group of women are sitting on the floor writing on paper.

A group of women are in a circle and putting their hands together.

“Many healthcare professionals say that at the beginning of the war there was hope that everything would end quickly and they would return to their previous lives”

2 persons are hugging. One of them has glasses and is smiling.

Find out more about our emergency response in Ukraine and how you can help.