In a new poll conducted by Ukraine-based Rating Group commissioned by the Ukraine Children’s Action Project (UCAP), shows that, with some caveats, Ukraine’s children and families remain resilient, in spite of an on-going war, now entering its 20th month of fierce fighting in the East and South of the country and regular drone and missile attacks throughout the entirety of Ukraine. 

Selected key findings

School Attendance and Effectiveness

• 94% of children learn in regular, in-school or hybrid classes (Was 92% in 2/23);

• Of the 6% who do not attend school, 40% do not attend because local school is closed; 60% because of child safety concerns;

• Over 55% of students use a computer or laptop as an additional learning tool;

• School attendance has improved significantly since the previous survey in 2/23

• Mothers report that the reasons for missing school include 78% due to illness in the child (was just 44% in 2/23); 25% due to air raid alarms (was 61% in February ’23); and, 9% due to lack of electricity (was 49% in 2/23); 

• Approximately 3 out of 4 mothers stated that the educational success and quality of the education received is very good or good;

What Children Have Experienced/ Are Experiencing?

• 62% of mothers report that their children have witnessed or experienced “war related events”;

• 25% of mothers now consider the location of their home dangerous compared to 21% in February 23;

• 79% of mothers assess the physical health of their children to be very good or good;

• 73% of mothers assess the mental health of their children as very good or good;

• That said, mothers report that many children fear loud sounds (48%), are exhibiting irritability (37%), etc. They are not showing full evidence of PTSD, but are affected by the war in a number of ways; [NB: Outside this study, UCAP has found that more than 1 in 5 displaced children attending 6-day Recovery Camps in western Ukraine are found to have “probably  PTSD];

• 38% of mothers state that they need financial assistance, 14% need essential food assistance and 13% need non-food assistance (clothing, hygiene items, blankets, etc.)

• 54% of surveyed mothers believe that the ability of Ukrainian parents to address issues related to the upbringing and development of children has deteriorated compared to the times before the full-scale Russian invasion in Ukraine. 25% believe that it has not changed. Only 15% noted improvement. Those whose financial situation is currently the worst were the most likely to talk about deterioration. 

• Mothers from Kyiv spoke most often about such difficulties - 67%. Among mothers with a high income, the feeling of deterioration was recorded in 41%, among low-income mothers - among 59%, with the lowest income - in 54%.

View of the Future

• While 91% of mothers currently believe unequivocally that Ukraine will repel and defeat Russian invaders, the percentage of mothers who are absolutely certain that Ukraine decreased from 71% in February to 60% now;

• 55% of mothers feel that Ukraine is moving in the right direction compared to 21% who say things are moving in wrong direction (the remaining mothers could not answer);

• 62% of mothers with higher family incomes feel optimistic about the direction of the things going in Ukraine, compared to just 48% among low income families.

• 62% of mothers report deterioration of family’s economic situation, and only 27% of mothers feeling that their financial situation will improve over the next year.

• 27% of mothers with a high income note a worsening of their financial situation, among those who have an average income - 53%, low-income families - 78%, poor - 90%.

Additional Conclusions/ Concerns

• While children are attending school, air raid alarms are frequent and require children and staff to retreat to school shelters, but not necessarily leave school.

• We are concerned that while school attendance is stable, the number of absences due to sickness is increasing from 44% of mothers citing sickness as the reason for missed school in February to 78% in the current survey. This needs to be explored.  After conversations with mothers and school officials, Irwin Redlener, M.D., Cofounder, Ukraine Children’s Action Project believes that there is a legitimate question about very poor air with circulation in school bomb shelters contributing to increased frequency respiratory illnesses and allergies.

• Higher income families have far more resources to deal with challenges of a country at war than do lower income families. While this may be an obvious reality, it should prompt greater support of people with financial stress to weather the war.

• Long-term consequences of persistent psychological trauma with or without formal PTSD diagnosis, along with grieving from loss of loved ones, are concerning.