Kyiv, 17 March 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, has presented the results of the study “Impact of the War on Young People in Ukraine — 2025”, which reflects changes in the moods, needs, and priorities of young people in the fourth year of the full-scale war, as well as their vision of their own role in the country’s recovery.

To examine the dynamics of the war’s impact on youth attitudes, a third round of the study was conducted, covering young people’s perceptions of the current situation in their communities, including the consequences of the war, economic adaptation, employment opportunities, and the state of mental health.

Despite the prolonged war and constant uncertainty, Ukrainian youth demonstrate a high level of optimism regarding their own future. Seventy-eight percent of young people in Ukraine assess their personal future as hopeful. At the same time, this optimism is accompanied by a significant level of anxiety and uncertainty, while planning horizons are gradually shifting from the long-term to the short-term.

The study results indicate certain signs of youth adaptation to wartime conditions. Compared to 2024, there has been a decrease in the proportion of those who cite health problems (from 42 percent to 30 percent), lack of money (from 31 percent to 22 percent), and physical safety (from 26 percent to 18 percent) as their greatest problems.

However, mental health remains one of the most acute challenges for youth, regardless of their place of residence — whether in Ukraine or abroad. Among young people in Ukraine, only 35 percent have never experienced excessive psychological anxiety or panic. Among young people abroad, this figure is only 18 percent. Despite this, access to psychological support remains limited.

The study pays particular attention to the migration sentiments of young people. According to the survey results, 68 percent of young respondents would not want to leave Ukraine, while 29 percent are considering the possibility of emigration. Despite the difficult conditions of the war, the majority of young Ukrainians associate their future with Ukraine.

At the same time, migration sentiments are primarily influenced by economic factors, the security situation, and limited opportunities for professional fulfilment. Notably, among those considering leaving, 47 percent cite the pursuit of material well-being as the main reason.

Importantly, young people demonstrate a consistently high level of civic engagement. Over half of young people have experience in volunteering, which correlates with data from previous years. At the same time, 18 percent of youth in Ukraine feel they can personally influence changes in their community, while a further 26 percent rather agree with this statement. Forty-four percent of young people believe they can influence changes in their community — an increase from 32 percent in 2024.

Uliana Tokarieva, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, noted that young people remain one of the key forces shaping modern Ukraine. “It is important for us to speak about reality as it is — to communicate through facts and evidence generated by research that can inform the decisions we make at both the national and local levels.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine remains open to cooperation and to building new partnerships in order to develop solutions that can already respond to the needs of young people today.

The study results are intended to help state institutions, international partners, civil society organisations, and youth organisations better understand the needs of the younger generation and formulate policies and programmes aimed at supporting young people and their active participation in the recovery of Ukraine. 

The readiness of young people to join the recovery has increased from 59 percent to 77 percent. This represents enormous potential, yet actual participation remains low. If clear engagement mechanisms are created, young people can become one of the key forces in Ukraine’s recovery — both in Ukraine and abroad.

Olena Ursu, UNDP Ukraine Democratic Governance Team Leader, noted: “Young people demonstrate significant resilience and readiness to participate in the recovery of Ukraine. Despite all the challenges of the war, Ukrainian youth maintain optimism and a high level of readiness to engage in the development of their communities. At the same time, the study results show that youth require additional support. That is why it is vital that decisions in the field of youth policy are made based on data, which will allow young people to fully realise their potential and play an active role in the development and recovery of Ukraine.”

Background: 

The study was prepared by the “Rating” Sociological Group at the initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, with technical and organisational support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and funding from the Government of Denmark.

The study can be downloaded at the following link.

Media enquiries: 
Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications and Advocacy, UNDP Ukraine: yuliia.samus@undp.org