“We Are Not Scared”: The Ukrainians Building Families in the Shadow of War

Even as the conflict in eastern Ukraine enters its fourth year, many Ukrainians are choosing life, hope, and family over fear. Across cities, towns, and villages scarred by shelling, residents are continuing to marry, have children, and create homes, defying the shadow of war that has hung over their lives since 2022.
In Kyiv, Lviv, and smaller towns near the frontlines, hospitals report that birth rates have remained steady despite uncertainty, while social services note a rise in couples seeking marriage registrations and family counseling. For these Ukrainians, daily life continues amid air-raid drills, intermittent blackouts, and the distant echoes of artillery.
Choosing Life Amid Conflict
“I know the world looks dangerous, but if we wait for peace to come, we might never start living,” says Olena Moroz, 28, who gave birth to her first child in a Kyiv maternity ward last month. “We refuse to let fear dictate our lives. This child is hope, not despair.”
Psychologists working in conflict zones explain that building families during war is both a personal statement and a form of psychological resilience. “Choosing to start a family amid uncertainty is an assertion of agency,” says Dr. Iryna Petrenko, a psychologist specializing in trauma care. “It communicates that life and continuity matter more than the immediate threats around them.”
Life on the Frontlines
In regions closer to the Donbas conflict zone, families face additional challenges. Power outages, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted schools are daily realities. Yet, even there, parents like Mykola and Kateryna Shevchenko persist. The couple recently welcomed their second child in a field hospital after the local maternity clinic sustained shell damage.
“Mykola and I were terrified,” Kateryna admits. “But we also knew that fear cannot stop love. Life continues — children give us purpose and hope.” Volunteer networks and humanitarian organizations have stepped in to provide medical supplies, temporary housing, and parenting support, helping families weather the precarious conditions.
Communities Rallying Together
Communal support is critical. In cities such as Dnipro, local residents organize collective childcare and shared parenting groups, allowing mothers and fathers to maintain employment while ensuring children are safe. Churches, NGOs, and volunteer networks have also adapted spaces to function as emergency nurseries and schooling centers.
“The sense of community has strengthened under pressure,” notes Olha Bondarenko, a coordinator with a Ukrainian humanitarian NGO. “Families are not just surviving; they are supporting each other, proving resilience in the most extreme circumstances.”
A Symbolic Resistance
For many Ukrainians, continuing to build families is a symbolic act of defiance. It sends a message to aggressors that life, culture, and hope cannot be erased by violence. Every wedding, every newborn, and every family home reconstructed is an assertion of identity and determination.
“It’s not about denying the war,” Olena Moroz emphasizes. “It’s about claiming joy, stability, and the future. We are not scared — our children are proof of that.”
Challenges Ahead
Despite this determination, families face significant hurdles. Economic instability, intermittent access to healthcare, and the psychological toll of prolonged conflict are ever-present concerns. Authorities and aid organizations are working to provide counseling, financial assistance, and emergency support, but the scale of the crisis makes comprehensive coverage challenging.
Nevertheless, Ukrainians continue to find ways to nurture life. Birth announcements are shared on social media alongside volunteer updates and messages of solidarity, demonstrating the intertwined realities of family, community, and ongoing resistance.
Looking Forward
In the shadow of war, Ukrainians building families are creating a legacy of hope, resilience, and continuity. They demonstrate that even amid destruction and uncertainty, the human spirit persists. Their courage underscores a fundamental truth: life, love, and family endure even when peace is not yet guaranteed.
As the country navigates ongoing conflict, these families — small and large — represent the future of Ukraine, proving that in the face of adversity, hope is not optional; it is essential.