“Every month of the war brings significant population losses to Ukraine, and it’s not just about the dead”: Ella Libanova
Demographic losses caused by the war are one of the most painful problems of modern Ukraine. War destroys not only the infrastructure and the economy, but also causes long-term consequences that can change the demographic profile of the country for decades. The war not only takes military and civilian lives, but also causes large-scale migration, forcing millions of Ukrainians to leave their homes. Refugees seeking safety abroad integrate into new societies, and many never return. In addition, war destroys infrastructure, making it impossible for those whose homes are destroyed or in war zones to return. The consequences of this phenomenon have a long-term nature, because the loss of the working population, the decrease in the birth rate and the general aging of the nation can seriously affect the economy and social stability of Ukraine in the future.
Director of the Institute of Demography and Social Research named after Ptuha Ella Libanova, commenting on this situation to CNN, believes that every additional month of war worsens the already critical demographic situation. According to her, the key problem lies not only in the losses among the dead, but also in those millions who left Ukraine and no longer plan to return.
Libanova explains that many Ukrainian refugees quickly adapt to life abroad. They find work, integrate into local communities, their children start attending schools in other countries. As a result, more and more people lose touch with the Motherland, and the desire to return disappears.
Another reason that makes return impossible for many is the destruction of housing and infrastructure. Destroyed cities and villages, the impossibility of restoring life in the usual environment push people to stay where they feel safer.
According to Libanova, every month of the war strengthens this effect. At most, there is a risk of a new wave of emigration after the end of martial law. She warns that many men who are currently forced to stay in Ukraine due to travel restrictions may go to their families abroad after the restrictions are lifted. This will create an additional burden on the demographic situation, which is already critical.
“If things go really badly, we could see another wave of migration after martial law is lifted – men going to be with their wives and children.” Libanova emphasized.
The forecast for the future is particularly worrying. Libanova emphasizes that the demographic losses caused by the war have a long-term nature. Even after the end of hostilities, the country risks facing a significant reduction in population. Lack of economic prospects, destroyed infrastructure, lack of confidence in the stability of recovery – all this can intensify the crisis.
According to her, demographic losses should be taken into account when developing state programs for the recovery of the country. The government should focus on creating the conditions that would encourage people to return: housing, jobs, stability and confidence in the future.
Thus, Libanova’s thoughts outline a pessimistic picture in which war not only destroys physical infrastructure, but also creates the conditions for long-term demographic losses. The restoration of Ukraine will require not only the end of the war, but also active efforts to return citizens who have left the country.
