On March 17, 2026, the study “Impact of War on Youth in Ukraine 2025" was presented in Kyiv.

This year's wave of survey was conducted by Sociological Group “Rating” (Rating Group) on the initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Government of Denmark. The research project demonstrates how Ukrainian youth feel and change during a full-scale war.

The study surveyed more than 2,000 respondents aged 14-35 years in Ukraine and 600 in EU countries. As evidenced by the results presented by the co-founder and CEO Rating Group Oleksiy Antypovych Ukrainian youth remain optimistic despite the circumstances. Thus, 78% of young people in Ukraine and 59% abroad answered that they believe in their future. Oleksiy Antypovych comments:

When I'm asked, “What would you explore next?” I say that you need to explore the future. And young people - this is the future of our country

‍ During the presentation, the participants discussed in particular:

• the impact of war is not the mental health of young people;
• to inform young people about their role in the development and reconstruction of Ukraine;
• priorities of young people;
• ‍ assessment of socio-economic opportunities for young people.

The participants of the event also noted the importance of such studies for the formation of evidence-based state youth policy on the basis of raw data. Olena Ursu, Head of the UNDP Project Group on Democratic Governance in Ukraine, observes:

“Young people demonstrate considerable resilience and willingness to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine. [...] At the same time, the results of the study show that young people need additional support. That is why it is important that decisions in the field of youth policy are made on the basis of data that will allow young people to fully realize their potential and play an active role in the development and recovery of Ukraine.

Similar opinion expresses Uliana Tokarieva, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine:

“It is important for us to speak about reality as it is, to speak in the language of facts and the language of research that can influence the decisions we make at both the national and local levels. The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine is always open to cooperation and to building new partnerships, to form such decisions that can already meet the needs of young people”