Tens of Thousands Killed, Millions Displaced in Ukraine War

The ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year, continues to exact a heavy toll on both the country's youth and soldiers on the front lines. Young Ukrainians have been deeply affected, facing disruptions to education, employment, and mental health, with many shifting to work supporting the war effort or studying online amidst displacement and instability. Protests led by young Ukrainians in Kyiv and other cities have erupted against President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's actions perceived to undermine anti-corruption agencies, reflecting their commitment to Ukraine's Western-oriented reforms and European integration. On the battlefield, soldiers endure relentless combat marked by drone warfare and artillery, with frontline conditions described as harsh and life-threatening. On the Russian side, young soldiers, including many 18-year-olds who enlisted immediately after high school, have suffered significant casualties, highlighting the human cost of the conflict; among them was Moscow's 2022 Teacher of the Year, Gennady Starunov, who was killed fighting in Ukraine. This multifaceted conflict continues to shape the lives of young people on both sides, underscoring the profound societal and personal impacts of the war.