*Originally appeared in The New Voice of Ukraine. 

Seventy-seven percent of young Ukrainians say they are ready to participate in their country’s recovery. Yet only one percent are involved in formal reconstruction projects.

That gap represents one of the greatest untapped opportunities for Ukraine’s future.

For more than four years, the story of Ukraine has been told through the language of war: military developments, damaged infrastructure, and the immense costs of destruction. These realities remain central. But they do not tell the whole story. Alongside the struggle for survival, another transformation is taking place – one that will help determine not only how Ukraine recovers, but what kind of country emerges from this period of adversity.

It is being driven by Ukraine's young people.

Findings from the Impact of the War on Youth in Ukraine – 2025 national study, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Government of Denmark, reveal a generation that remains remarkably hopeful, resilient, and committed to its country’s future despite years of upheaval, displacement, and uncertainty.

The question is no longer whether young people are ready to contribute to Ukraine’s recovery. They have already answered that question. The real challenge is whether governments, communities, institutions, and development partners are prepared to create meaningful opportunities for them to lead.

Hope amid uncertainty

The study paints a striking picture of resilience. Despite the disruption of education, housing, employment, and family life, 78% of young Ukrainians remain hopeful about their personal future.

This is not blind optimism. It reflects an extraordinary ability to adapt, persevere, and find purpose amid prolonged uncertainty. Many have learned to live under constant threat, focusing on what they can influence today rather than making plans for an unpredictable tomorrow.

Yet resilience should never be confused with the absence of need.

The war has made long-term planning increasingly difficult. Decisions about careers, starting families, or buying homes are often postponed, not because of a lack of ambition, but because the future remains shaped by circumstances beyond individual control.

The psychological toll is equally profound. One-third of young people report frequent episodes of severe anxiety and emotional exhaustion. The challenge is particularly acute among the millions of young Ukrainians living abroad. Only 18% of young refugees report being free from anxiety, compared with 35% of those who remained in Ukraine.

These findings highlight the complex impact of displacement. Young Ukrainians abroad often carry not only the trauma of war, but also the loneliness that comes with separation from familiar communities and support networks. More than half (54%) report feelings of loneliness and a lack of meaningful communication, compared with 17% of young people living in Ukraine (31% of Ukrainian refugees, or 1.7 million people, are under the age of 18, and another 25%, or 1.4 million people, are between the ages of 18 and 24).

Across all groups, the greatest source of strength remains close social connections, especially family and friends. Yet for a generation shaped by displacement and separation, those bonds are under constant strain. Expanding access to mental health services and strengthening opportunities for social connection must therefore remain a priority for government, civil society, and international partners alike.

Bridging the participation gap

Alongside these challenges lies an extraordinary opportunity.

The study shows that 77% of young Ukrainians are ready to participate in recovery efforts, up from 59% in 2024. Yet only a fraction currently have access to formal recovery and reconstruction initiatives.

This is not a participation problem. It is an opportunity problem.

Across Ukraine, young people are already contributing through volunteering, community initiatives, civic activism, entrepreneurship, and local problem-solving. Many are assuming leadership roles long before anyone formally invites them to do so.

What is missing are stronger pathways that connect this energy and initiative with official recovery processes.

By expanding opportunities for participation in local planning, community decision-making, public institutions, and recovery programmes, Ukraine can transform a willing generation into one of the country’s most powerful drivers of reconstruction.

As one 22-year-old survey participant from a rural community observed: “People just need to understand that they shouldn’t wait for someone else to do something. They need to realise they have to do it themselves.”

That spirit of agency is already visible across the country. The task now is to ensure that institutions are able to harness and support it.

Redefining recovery together

Recovery is often measured in kilometres of roads repaired, homes rebuilt, or infrastructure restored.

These investments are essential. But lasting recovery depends just as much on trust, participation, and leadership. It requires investing in people, particularly young people, who will carry Ukraine’s transformation forward long after reconstruction projects are completed.

The study shows encouraging signs. The share of young people who believe they can influence change in their communities has increased from 32% in 2024 to 44% in 2025. Participation in school and student self-government rose from 8% to 21% during the same period.

These are not merely statistics. They signal a generation that is increasingly confident in its ability to shape the future and actively seeking opportunities to do so.

Young Ukrainians are also advocating for the values that underpin Ukraine’s European path: transparency, accountability, the rule of law, and an inclusive society where every voice matters. For the 75% of young people who support European Union accession, recovery is not simply about rebuilding what has been damaged. It is about building a country where institutions earn trust, participation is encouraged, and citizens help shape the decisions that affect their lives.

Investing in youth is therefore not a secondary concern. It is a strategic investment in Ukraine’s democratic resilience, successful recovery, and long-term prosperity.

A path forward

Turning youth potential into national progress requires action from government, local authorities, civil society, educational institutions, and international partners alike. The Ministry of Youth and Sports has a central role to play, but success depends on a broader coalition committed to creating opportunities for young people to lead.

The study points to three priorities in particular:

Youth-led initiatives. Invest in programmes and projects designed and led by young people themselves, enabling them to shape solutions for their communities.

Economic launchpads. Expand access to entrepreneurship support, grants, skills development, and internships that help bridge the gap between education and the realities of a wartime and post-war labour market.

Local infrastructure. Strengthen youth centres and community-based programmes that provide opportunities for participation, connection, and leadership at the local level.

The share of young Ukrainians abroad who say they are confident that they will return to Ukraine has declined from 32% in 2024 to 22% now. Yet this does not mean that their connection to the country’s future has disappeared. While economic development, safety, and stability remain the main conditions influencing their decision to return, the chance to find meaningful employment, contribute, and help change society are also key factors.

Ukraine must thus show young Ukrainians abroad that they are needed at home and that meaningful opportunities exist for them to contribute to the country’s recovery.

One way Ukraine is already doing this is through the VidNOVA:UA programme, which supports the renovation of youth spaces across the country. Developed by UNDP in 2022 in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the programme is becoming state-owned this year. Crucially, it also includes an international youth exchange component, creating opportunities for young Ukrainians living abroad to take part in the reconstruction and development of their country.

Ukraine’s recovery will be measured not only by the roads reconstructed or the buildings restored, but by whether a generation shaped by war is empowered to shape the peace that follows.

If we create meaningful opportunities for young people to lead, Ukraine’s recovery will be more inclusive, more democratic, and more sustainable. And most importantly, it will be built not only for young Ukrainians, but with them.

The evidence is clear. Young Ukrainians are not waiting on the sidelines. They are demonstrating resilience, initiative, and a deep commitment to their communities. Their willingness to contribute has already been proven.

The question now is whether the rest of us are prepared to match their ambition.