Ukraine is becoming a nation of widows and orphans as it confronts the world’s worst demographic crisis
CNN • • world
Key Points:
- Ukraine is facing a severe demographic crisis as its birth rate collapses amid ongoing war, with millions killed, displaced, or living under occupation, resulting in a loss of around 10 million people since 2014.
- The war's stress and hardships have negatively impacted fertility, causing increased complications, premature menopause in women, and poorer sperm quality in men, according to reproductive specialists at Ukraine’s Nadiya clinic.
- Many Ukrainian soldiers are older and married with children, leading to a growing number of widows and orphans; support groups for widows have emerged to help cope with grief and foster community.
- The mass exodus of refugees, mostly young women and children, has caused a significant brain drain, raising concerns about Ukraine’s future
