Since Ukraine war started, romance and parenthood seem remote for those who stayed
BBC••world
Key Points:
- The ongoing war in Ukraine has drastically affected personal relationships, with many Ukrainians like Daria and Khrystyna finding dating and starting families increasingly difficult due to conscription, trauma, and displacement.
- The conflict has led to a sharp decline in marriage rates, birth rates, and population, with Ukraine's fertility rate dropping to a record low of 0.9 children per woman in 2024, far below the replacement level of 2.1.
- Demographers warn that prolonged war will have long-lasting demographic impacts, potentially reducing Ukraine's population to 25.2 million by 2051, less than half of its 1992 population, which poses economic and security challenges.
- Ukrainian couples face uncertainty in family
