Children in Kyiv talk about their pain from Russia's war in Ukraine, sharing how therapy has helped them regain strength. The loss of home, security, family and friends due to war has left them immensely traumatized.

Kyiv

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Children in Kyiv are profoundly affected by the trauma resulting from Russia's war in Ukraine, expressing their experiences of pain and loss through conversations about their struggles. They recount the detrimental impacts on their lives, including the loss of their homes, the absence of security, separation from family, and the death of friends, which has led to significant psychological distress.

In an effort to address these mental health issues, impacted children have sought therapy, which has been instrumental in their journey towards recovery. These therapeutic interventions have played a crucial role in helping them rebuild their inner strength and cope with the trauma inflicted by the ongoing conflict. The efficiency of such support underscores the importance of mental health resources in war-torn regions, offering a semblance of hope amid devastating circumstances.



Kyiv group helps kids cope with trauma of war

No matter how hard you look, you won't see their injuries. Theirs are deep within, inflicted by two years of war. Eleven-year-old Matvey saw Russian soldiers occupy his home overnight when the full-scale invasion began in 2022. He and his family had to run to four different places in and out of the country before settling in the capital. I love traveling, but this was probably the worst trip of my life. Thirteen-year-old Anastasia's hometown, Mariupol, is also occupied and was heavily shelled by the Russians. It was a really happy place to live in, and it would be great if war didn't start. It would be more and more productive. Sometimes you just want to run away from your problems and be free and happy, like a little child. Here at the Voices of Children, an NGO in Kyiv, they try to offer just that. Free psychological counseling, art classes, and every once in a while, a literal escape from reality, like this role-playing game. This game is fascinating. It has many possibilities. You can become a lizard-man, or a giant, or a half-plant, half-man. You can have any weapon at all. You can build your own, so to speak, history. I like playing a giant because his main characteristic is strength. I am the strongest character so far. It's a way to help the children regain a sense of control they lost when forced to leave home and everything they knew. Nowadays, there are a lot of kids who just don't want anything. They are just tired and bored, and they don't have the desire to do anything. But these kids do. It is important that they express themselves, that they are not afraid to try something, change their plans, make mistakes, and look for solutions to these mistakes. Oksana says she sees progress. Many of the kids open up, letting go of the barriers they put up to protect themselves from fear and loss. I feel happy. I feel relieved from all my problems because it's really easy to sometimes forget that I need to do homework, I need to clean the dishes, or just about the war. And right here, it is the safe place when I can talk, when I can play, when I can smile, or I can be sad. Even though there are no signs the war will end soon, children like Matvey and Anastasia are not waiting for national victory. They are on their recovery journey now, one session at a time.

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Ukraine Invasion