Trauma in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

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Trauma has affected both military veterans and civilians in the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022. The fighting has been extremely intense, the kind of warfare Europe hadn’t seen since World War II. There have been accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity by both sides.

From late 2022, mercenary forces linked to Russia, such as the Wagner Group, started recruiting volunteers from Russian prisons in exchange for their freedom after a few months of service. Many of these prisoners were serving long sentences and took the risk for a chance at freedom.

Since the start of the war, various mental health problems have been observed. Among them is PTSD, and a set of conditions researchers refer to as the Ukrainian syndrome, a term used to describe the psychological impact of the conflict on Ukrainians and soldiers. The Ukrainian syndrome has been studied since 2014 and is likened to other long-lasting battle injuries, such as the Afghan or Vietnamese syndromes. In 2023, psychologists discussed the syndrome and the need for rehabilitation and support.

Since 2023, crime rates in areas of Russia where returning soldiers live have risen, with increases in drug use, rapes, and murders. Many analysts link this to the broader effects of the war on veterans and the communities they return to, sometimes described as part of the Ukrainian syndrome.

Starting in 2024, the surge in drone warfare has been linked to thousands of Ukrainian soldiers returning from the front with acute stress disorders triggered by the buzzing of drones. This has been called droneophobia by Ukrainian military doctors. Russia’s use of FPV drones to target civilians near the front lines has helped spread droneophobia to nearby civilians as well.