Children Under Fire

"It is crucial for Europe and the rest of the global community to recognize that the effects of the conflict will be measured in the lost potential, resilience, and childhood of the youth."

According to CNN, a Russian drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv killed a 12-year old girl and left 70 others injured in late September 2025. Such a tragedy epitomizes the daily peril faced by Ukrainian children who live under constant threat of bombardment and displacement. 

The Russia-Ukraine war continues to shape Europe’s political, economic, and humanitarian landscape in its third year. While the conflict is often viewed through the geopolitical lens, its most prevalent impact lies in the plight of Ukrainian children, whose psychological development, education, nutrition, and sense of identity are irreversibly shaped by the effects of ongoing warfare. Not only have Russian attacks shattered infrastructure, but the holistic development of childhood. Thus, children now live under constant exposure to violence that fosters fear and anxiety as they experience air raids, lose family members, and are displaced from their homes.

Over 2520 children have been killed or wounded in the conflict, according to UNICEF (2025). While this number may seem miniscule, the war has inflicted irreparable damage to their well-being and psyche. Schools, which used to be a safe haven, have become potential death traps, resulting in remote education. However, many children may not have access to the internet or electronic devices, resulting in a learning loss of up to two years. As the war ensues, Ukrainian children will continue to fall behind, hidden in basements and frozen in time rather than moving towards the future through education. 

The destruction of more than 800 health facilities through shelling and airstrikes has left many children without access to essential healthcare. It has led to lapses not only in the treatment of devastating injuries, but also in vaccination and preventive care. Thus, the children who flee from the conflict face preventable diseases such as measles, diphtheria, and polio: conditions that had previously been under constant surveillance. 

Consequently, these psychological and physical strains of living through constant bombardment have triggered a surge in pediatric strokes. Chronic exposure to war-induced stress and untreated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have placed children at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and atrial fibrillation. This war ultimately jeopardizes children’s immediate survival and undermines their long-term growth, nutrition, and health. The result is a generation marked by deprivation and trauma.

The Russia-Ukraine war has inflicted a profound harm on Ukraine’s youngest generation. Beyond the immediate threats of death, injury and displacement, they endure a disrupted education, psychological trauma, and malnutrition, all of which undermine their long-term growth and sense of identity. Therefore, it is crucial for Europe and the rest of the global community to recognize that the effects of the conflict will be measured in the lost potential, resilience, and childhood of the youth.

This article was written by the MUN-UPD applicants under the Europe Continent Family.