The ongoing war in Ukraine has led many citizens, including soldiers and civilians, to delay having children, fearing for the future.
Some, like Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr, are turning to sperm freezing as a safeguard. While he dreams of raising children with his wife Kateryna, who now lives as a refugee in the Czech Republic, the war has put those plans on hold.
To support soldiers facing high risks, Ukraine recently introduced free sperm freezing for military personnel. Many clinics, including the Feskov clinic in Kharkiv, have seen a rise in demand for both sperm and egg freezing among civilians as well. The clinic even moved its genetic material to a secret location to protect it from Russian strikes.
Ukraine’s demographic crisis predates the war but has worsened significantly since the 2022 invasion. The UN estimates that the country’s population has dropped by nearly 19% since then, and birth rates have fallen to less than one child per woman, one of the lowest in the world.
Many women, like 23-year-old student Daria Chernyshova, have also chosen to freeze their eggs. Having witnessed the war firsthand, she finds the idea of motherhood too risky for now. With dating prospects limited due to military conscription and population decline, she is considering moving abroad to find a partner.
The Ukrainian government hopes for a post-war baby boom, but for now, many are focused on survival and preserving their reproductive options for a safer future.